Have proof Patil, police knew about violence: BJP

The BJP on Saturday alleged home minister RR Patil as well as the police had prior information about the possibility of violence at Azad Maidan on August 11, HT reports.

The Bharatiya Janta Party on Saturday alleged home minister RR Patil as well as the police had prior information about the possibility of violence at Azad Maidan on August 11.

HT Image

The BJP released pictures which allegedly show Patil and minister of state Sachin Ahir with Raza Academy’s Moin Miya at an Iftar function on August 9.

Refuting the allegations, Patil told the media that the person in the photograph is not Miya but the brother of an NCP corporator, and that there is nothing wrong in attending an Iftar party.

BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari also claimed a woman had informed the police about the likelihood of violence by anti-social elements during the rally.

"A woman residing in suburban Bandra had intimated deputy commissioners of police (zone 8 and 9) on August 9 through a letter that she had credible information that some anti-social elements would indulge in violence," Bhandari said, and claimed it also stated that an externed criminal, Salim Lightwala, was planning to incite violence in the city.