Anticipating fierce contests during the civic polls, the city police have started issuing notices to candidates whose supporters were involved in violence during the 2007 civic polls.
All local police stations are issuing notices to candidates under section 149 of the Criminal
Procedure Code, which allows any police officer to intervene to prevent a cognisable offence. The notice states action will be taken against candidates involved in violence.
Till Thursday, at least 80 notices had been issued to the 2007 troublemakers, including Mayor Shraddha Jadhav, Sena heavyweight Milind Vaidya and Geeta and Vandana Gawli, daughter and daughter-in-law of gangster Arun Gawli.
Manohar Dalvi, deputy commissioner of police (operations), said: “These notices are being issued by local police stations to candidates who either have a criminal record or history of violence in that area. They are being sent as part of the procedure to maintain law and order before the elections.”
The police have asked Jadhav, who is contesting from ward number 169 (CGS Colony Sector 7) in Antop Hill, to observe restraint.
Samsher Pathan, senior inspector of Antop Hill police station, said: “We have served notice to Shiv Sena candidate Shraddha Jadhav. She has a rioting offence registered against her in the past. We have asked her to refrain from the same this time. She has accepted the notice.” Despite repeated attempts, Jadhav remained unavailable for comment.