Case filed against union minister’s sons for statement linking Pawar and Dawood

The Azad Maidan police registered a case against union minister Narayan Rane’s sons, BJP MLA Nitesh Rane and Nilesh Rane, based on a complaint by NCP leader Suraj Chavan.

MUMBAI: The Azad Maidan police has registered a case against union minister Narayan Rane’s sons, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Nitesh Rane and Nilesh Rane, for allegedly connecting the name of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, police said.

BJP MLA Nitesh Rane alleged that Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik had dealt with Dawood Ibrahim and demanded Malik’s resignation. (File)

The case was registered based on a complaint filed by NCP leader Suraj Chavan on Saturday. We have recorded the statement of Chavan and registered the case and further investigation is going on, said a senior police officer.

The case has been registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation).

In a BJP rally in Azad Maidan, Nitesh Rane alleged that Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik had dealt with Dawood Ibrahim and demanded Malik’s resignation. He also said Malik is not a saint and asked why the government did not ask for his resignation.

Later during a press conference, Nilesh Rane, criticising Sharad Pawar, asked why Pawar is not asking Malik to resign. He also asked if there is any connection of Pawar to Dawood Ibrahim and said he suspected that Pawar is Dawood’s man in Maharashtra.