MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is likely to face the Opposition’s ire for appointing a tainted BJP worker as his personal assistant.
Abhimanyu Pawar, an official of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), has emerged as Fadnavis’ shadow since the latter took charge as Chief Minister on October 30.
Pawar stands accused of sending objectionable messages to a woman worker of the party. A copy of the FIR filed against him with the Latur Police on September 16 has been obtained by the Express.
According to the FIR, Pawar sent objectionable message to the 42-year-old doctor on social networking site WhatsApp.
“The message spread rumours about me. It has affected my political and social reputation and defamed me,” the woman has stated in her complaint.
Pawar has been booked under Section 66 of the Information and Technology Act and Section 500 under the Indian Penal Code (Defamation). These sections have provision of imprisonment for two years if charges are proved.
The BJP had roped in Pawar, who comes from Latur in Marathwada region, to assist the party’s state in-charge for the Assembly elections O P Mathur during the campaign. After the party won, Pawar was elevated as the CM’s personal assistant. A senior official at Mantralaya, the state’s seat of power, said many people have already complained about Pawar’s controversial past to Fadnavis. Fadnavis, who is also in-charge of the Home Department, has so far not taken any action against Pawar.
A BJP leader said Pawar had pleaded not guilty in the case. “He has claimed that he was falsely implicated in this case. So we allowed him to work,” he said.