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RTI activist arrested on builder’s complaint
Right to Information activist Kamlakar Shenoy was arrested by the Vasai police on Saturday on charges of atrocity under The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, pressed by director of Shivalik Ventures, Raja Jadhav.
Right to Information (RTI) activist Kamlakar Shenoy was arrested by the Vasai police on Saturday on charges of atrocity under The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, pressed by director of Shivalik Ventures, Raja Jadhav.
Shenoy’s bail application was rejected and he has been remanded in police custody for three days, sources said.
Jadhav’s act is seen as a response to Shenoy’s attempts to book the developer for alleged violations in its 150-building project at Nallasopara.
Shenoy’s brother, Uday, said, “Raja Jadhav lodged an atrocity case against my brother because he had unearthed the violations in 150 buildings in Nallasopara built by Network Constructions (now Shivalik Ventures).”
Shenoy, a member of the RTI Activists Union Against Land Mafia, has been blowing the whistle on Shivalik Ventures since long.
“Acting on his complaints, the magistrate of the Ballard Pier court had ordered that Ramakant Jadhav, proprietor of Shivalik Ventures, along with 12 officers be prosecuted for land grabbing and various irregularities in the slum rehabilitation scheme by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority and other authorities,” said Krishnaraj Rao, RTI activist.
Shivalik Ventures, however, dismissed any connection with Shenoy’s arrest.
“We have nothing to do with Kamlakar Shenoy’s arrest,” said Ramakant Jadhav.
“It is shocking that much-needed criminal action against Shivalik Builders, a proven wrong-doer, has not been initiated. The government has instead arrested Shenoy, who has blown the lid off Shivalik’s corrupt activities,” said social activist Medha Patkar on Monday.
Despite repeated attempts, the Vasai police remained unavailable for comment.
