CM Devendra Fadnavis’ photograph with a criminal triggers controversy

The chief minister’s office has clarified that Fadnavis does not know the criminal and he had accompanied the wife of builder Suresh Hawre, who had come to invite the CM for a function

Pune-based criminal Baba Bodke’s photograph with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and on a banner put up by the Bharatiya Janata Party has triggered a controversy.

The chief minister’s office has clarified that Fadnavis does not know the criminal and he had accompanied the wife of builder Suresh Hawre, who had come to invite the CM for a function.

Bodke, who has multiple cases including four murders pending against him, is seen with Fadnavis in a photograph, which has gone viral on the social media over the past two days.

The photographs of a BJP banner featuring the criminal made rounds on social media sites, causing a major embarrassment to the party.

The Opposition rapped the CM, who also holds the home portfolio, for taking a photo with a criminal. Former chief minister and State Congress chief Ashok Chavan questioned if criminals have open access to the official bungalow of the CM.

The CMO said Fadnavis was not aware of the credentials of the person in the picture.

“He had come with Mrs Hawre, who had come to invite Fadnavis for the function of launch of a women security app in Pune. The CM was informed that noted social activist Anna Hazare too was supposed to attend the function. The CM does not know Bodake,” the official statement said.