Raju Agarwal’s Bhujbal connection stuns his family

SHAHADA, July 24: Rajendra Mihilal Agarwal, who filed an affidavit in Mumbai accusing Chhagan Bhujbal of masterminding the sacrilege of Dr ...

SHAHADA, July 24: Rajendra Mihilal Agarwal, who filed an affidavit in Mumbai accusing Chhagan Bhujbal of masterminding the sacrilege of Dr B R Ambedkar’s statue in Ghatkopar, called home on Wednesday, saying he would return after five or six days, his mother said, pointing out that his trips to Mumbai had increased over the last two months. He also asked if police protection had been provided, she said.

The gesture has surprised his family members, who are anxiously awaiting his return.

“I was shocked to read today’s newspapers, as Raju kept us in the dark about his proximity to Chhagan Bhujbal,” said his 55-year-old mother, Shagunbai. In a choked voice, she said he had taken a major risk by filing the affidavit.

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“My brother was instrumental in setting up the first Shiv Sena shakha in Shahada,” Raju’s younger brother, Vijaykumar said, holding forth on Raju’s political career. “He was elected to the Shahada municipal council in 1991 from Ward No 28. After Bhujbal defected to the Congress, my brother followed suit. A grand function was held at which my brother joined the Congress. Bhujbal had even said that Raju was the `Bhubal of Shahada’,” said Vijaykumar.

“We know that he has risked his life, but we are with him, though sacrilege of statues of national leaders is wrong. In fact, we are surprised that Bhujbal stooped so low,” he added.

Agarwal is a diploma holder in civil engineering. He was a Shiv Sena councillor in the Shahada Municipal Council (which had 31 elected and three co-opted members to manage the civic affairs of Shahada town having a population of about 40,000) in 1991 and was the chairman of the education and water supply committees. He contested the 1996 civic polls but was defeated. His mother, too, was in the fray from a neighbouring ward, but was defeated as well.

The family runs ration shops at Javada and Vadali villages. It also runs a small-scale oil mill in Shahada town. The eldest brother, Satish also runs a ration shop and is a government contractor for supplying food under the Integrated Child Development Programme. Raju is the second child, while Vijay, the youngest, looks after the shops.

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Raju married Rupali two years ago. She is due to deliver their first child next month. “We have just told her that he has gone for party work in Mumbai, otherwise, it may create problems for her and the child,” Vijay said.

According to Vijay and Shagunbai, Raju left for Mumbai eight days ago. Incidentally, two armed guards have been posted at Gupta Bhavan — his residence — round the clock from 2 pm yesterday.

The Shahada police have registered five cases of rioting, disturbance of public peace and hoarding of essential commodities against Raju — all of which are pending in the court.