Police to probe social boycott angle in Hevalekar case

Hevalekar had got the opportunity to perform an 'aarti' with the CM at his official residence after he claimed that he and his family were victims of social boycott

Mumbai

Hevalekar had got the opportunity to perform an 'aarti' with the CM at his official residence. (File)

The Kudal police have decided to formally probe the grievances of Parmanand Hevalekar for social boycott after preliminary investigations. This will bring some relief to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis after many embarrassments. The police will soon register an FIR against several people from Hevalekar’s village in Kudal for socially boycotting his family.

Hevalekar had got the opportunity to perform an 'aarti' with the CM at his official residence after he claimed that he and his family were victims of social boycott. But it was later found that Hevalekar is also an accused in a molestation case and that may have been the reason why the village boycotted him and his family.

“There is an element of suspicion and to rule it out, we need to have thorough investigation. So we will book the accused very soon," said a senior police officer privy to the case. The police will explore the possibility of local enmity.

Maharashtra has no specific law to deal with such cases at present as the law against social boycott passed by the Assembly in April this year, is yet to get the President’s nod.

Hevalekar was arrested on Saturday for alleged molestation but secured bail the very same day after he was produced in a local court.

Carrying a Ganesh idol, the Hevalekar couple staged a dharna outside the Mantralaya gate insisting a meet Fadnavis last week. The CM ordered a probe based on the complaints.

HT had reported last Friday that Hevalekar is an accused in molestation case. It came to light later that he was on the run for the past few months after a charge sheet was filed by the police in the case.