Maharashtra: Satara Cong MLA held for kidnapping polling officer

The Congress MLA from Mann Taluk of Satara, Jaykumar Gore, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly kidnapping the polling officer during the elections for the board of directors at a local development society, held last month.

The Congress MLA from Mann Taluk of Satara, Jaykumar Gore, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly kidnapping the polling officer during the elections for the board of directors at a local development society, held last month.

According to the Satara police, Gore had kidnapped Pankaj Tayade, who was appointed as the polling officer by the co-operative department for the elections at Andhali Vikas society, holding him captive till the process was over.

The Jaykumar Gore-led panel was contesting elections against another panel promoted by his brother Shekhar.

During the elections, Gore quarrelled with the rival panel as well as the election officer and Tayade, according to the complaint registered with the Satara local crime branch.

“We have arrested Gore under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to kidnapping, after a complaint was lodged by Tayade,” said Amol Tambhe, additional superintendent of police.

Gore, a three-time member of the legislative Assembly, is not new to controversies.

In November 2014, he was among the five Congress legislators who were suspended by the Maharashtra Assembly speaker, Haribhau Bagde, for allegedly heckling and physically stopping governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, while he was trying to enter the Vidhan Bhawan.

In 2009, Gore was booked for attacking a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, Sadashiv Pol.

Considered to be a close associate of former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, Gore had offered to vacate his seat for Chavan during 2011 to make way for the then CM.