Pawar appears at prog hosted by dacoity accused

NAGPUR: Facing allegations in irrigation scam, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar first day at winter session of the state legislature began on controversial note when he was felicitated at Kachhipura chowk by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) west Nagpur president Vijay Talewar, who is wanted in a case of dacoity, trespass, assault and also outraging of modesty by Sitabuldi police.NCP city president Ajay Patil was co-organizer of the programme.
Talewar has remained out of police net even after his bail was rejected by Supreme Court and twice by the High court earlier. While police say he is not available in city, he was spotted near the dais and later at the dinner at Sai Vatika lawns near Bajaj Nagar where deputy CM Pawar and other ministers, NCP state president Madhukarrao Pichad and other ministers of NCP were also present.
Several cops opted to turn blind eye to Talewar's presence among the ministers, especially Pawar, at the dinner hosted jointly by Talewar and Patil. Patil was not available for comment. City police had little explanation to offer when asked how could they watch state deputy CM share dinner with an accused. City police chief KK Pathak, who had taken over last week, claimed he was not aware and would look into the matter.
Deputy commissioner of police, special branch, SM Waghmare said permission for the felicitation programme was sought in the name of NCP city president Patil and he had no clue about Talewar. Incidentally, hoardings for the programme, the arches at the venue, and also the invitation cards, that normally cops scrutinize before granting permission, had names of both Patil and Talewar. Asked how special branch failed to protect sanctity of the office of deputy CM, Waghmare had no comment.
At the programme, DCP Kailas Kanse was present along with the senior PI Vivek Joshi of Sitabuldi where Talewar's arrest is pending. Intriguingly, Talewar was not visible on the dais but sources claimed he was close by. His name was repeatedly being announced over the loudspeakers as organizer of the programme that the cops seemed not to listen.
NCP city president Patil was also present along with his corporator wife Pragati Patil and others. Patil's solemn insistence that he would ensure action against Talewar in case latter did not surrender was published in TOI on November 18. Talewar had filed a complaint against Bharti Belsare and her two sons over a fight for possession of property at Ramdaspeth. While Belsares were arrested on charges of assault immediately following Talewar's complaint, he was not taken into custody despite the opposing party filing an offence of dacoity, trespass, outraging of modesty, and assault against him.
The controversial programme, held bang on Central Bazaar Road, was also a traffic nightmare. Deputy commissioner of police, traffic, Jeevraj Dabhade said he had ensured the programme was shifted from the square earlier proposed to one ahead of it. "We had two inspectors posted to regulate traffic," he said.