Mumbai, October 05: The animosity between the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has got uglier. MNS general secretary Pravin Darekar, who is contesting the assembly polls from Magathane, has alleged that Shiv Sena workers in the constituency were threatening some cable operators for supporting him.
He added that the cable operators have been threatened by Sadanand Kadam, brother of Sena leader Ramdas Kadam. “Six operators have got death threat,” Darekar said, adding that the Sena was playing a foul game as it was afraid of losing the polls.
The MNS leader went with a cable operator, Ketan Divecha, to Dahisar police station on Friday evening to file complaint against Sadanand, who is a bigwig in cable TV business. Divecha, an MNS worker, told the cops that he was abducted from an MNS rally near Shantivan around 12.30 pm. “I was taken to Sadanand’s office in Kandivli. He threatened me with dire consequences if I keep supporting the MNS.”
Interestingly, in an earlier statement given to the cops the same day, when other MNS workers had taken him to the police station, Divecha said that he had gone to Sadanand’s office on his own. “I was scared as Sadanand had warned me not to inform the police,” he said retracting the statement.
Sadanand refuted the allegations. “I met Divecha to settle cable dues. My partner, Nitin Kini, was also present,” he said. “Cable operators working under me belong to various parties — the NCP, the Sena, the Congress, the MNS. I am a sainik, but have never forced any cable operator to support the Sena.”
Sadanand and Darekar had once been partners in cable business. The former alleged that Darekar was trying to settle old scores and gain political mileage by making false allegations against him and the Sena. Sena candidate Ashok Nar and his chief polling agent, Bala Rane, also trashed the charges.
Senior police inspector PB Kakad said, “We have taken statements of both sides. Action will be taken following investigations.”
Kadam organised a meeting of the cable operators working under him on Saturday. Ganesh Naidu, another bigwig in local cable business, is supporting NCP candidate Prakash Surve.
–Agencies–