Former mayor & Sena corporator booked for assaulting police at vote counting centre in Sambhajinagar

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The police registered a case against former mayor Vikas Jain and two others, including newly elected Shiv Sena corporator Abhishek Jeevanwal, for allegedly assaulting police personnel and obstructing official duty at a vote-counting centre set up at the Govt Engineering College here on Friday.Amid demands by the district guardian minister Sanjay Shirsat to register an FIR against the policemen for lathicharging Sena office-bearers, including Jain, the FIR was registered with the Vedantnagar police station in the early hours of Saturday.The lathicharge took place in the morning after a dispute erupted over entry into the Govt Engineering College-based counting centre, where counting of votes for multiple municipal wards was underway. The police said strict security arrangements were put in place to ensure smooth counting and maintain law and order.In his complaint, assistant commissioner of police Sagar Shilwant Deshmukh said that the counting for municipal corporation Wards 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 27 was conducted at the Govt Engineering College premises. Entry to the counting centre was regulated through barricading on key approach roads, and only candidates and their limited authorised representatives were allowed inside on the basis of identity cards issued by the returning officer.The police said that between 9am and 9.30am, a large crowd gathered near the main entrance gate of the centre. At this time, Jain, along with Shiva Rajput and Jeevanwal, allegedly attempted to enter the premises without producing valid identity cards. When on-duty police personnel asked them to show the required documents, an argument ensued.According to the FIR, the trio allegedly tried to force their way inside by pushing the gate, leading to a scuffle with police officers deployed at the entrance. Inspector Pramod Kathane and assistant inspector Sachin Miradhe were allegedly pushed and manhandled during the commotion. As the situation threatened to spiral out of control, the police used mild force to disperse the crowd and restore order. The individuals involved were then moved aside, and the situation was brought under control, the police said.During the police action, Jain sustained injuries, including visible ones on his hand and back, while some party workers were also thrashed during the lathicharge. However, the police maintained that only minimum force was used to prevent a breach of security at the sensitive counting venue.Based on ACP Deshmukh's complaint, Vedantnagar police registered a case against Jain, Rajput and Jeevanwal under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, for obstructing govt work, violating prohibitory orders and attacking public servants. Authorities said the investigation is being carried out by Vedantnagar inspector Praveena Yadav.