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Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Court allows Shiv Sena (UBT ) man Suraj Chavan to travel to Delhi for legal and party work despite ED objections
Mumbai: Even with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposing the plea with fears that he may abscond, a special PMLA court allowed Shiv Sena (UBT) "political leader" Suraj Chavan to travel to New Delhi for 20 days to consult lawyers about the intra-party disputes before the Supreme Court and attend meetings with party MPs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Chavan, who was arrested in Jan 2024 for his alleged involvement in a money laundering case connected to the khichdi scam during the Covid-19 pandemic, was granted bail by the Bombay high court in Feb this year. Granting permission to travel, the court noted that the right to travel is a fundamental right and that there was nothing on record to suggest Chavan misused his bail. "The applicant wanted to travel to Delhi for discharging important official and legal duties in connection with the functioning of Shiv Sena (UBT) and to represent the party before the Election Commission of India... The applicant wanted to travel within a specific period. No prejudice will be caused if the applicant is permitted to travel as prayed," special judge RB Rote said. The judge acknowledged the ED concerns but stated that these could be addressed by imposing certain conditions. The application was filed by Chavan, who requested permission to travel to Delhi from Aug 1 to Aug 20, 2025. The ED argued that if Chavan was allowed to leave Maharashtra, there was a high possibility he would abscond and delay the trial. Chavan's lawyer, Shagufa Patel, submitted that Chavan was a respected political leader who was released on bail by the Bombay high court on Feb 4. The plea was ultimately granted with several conditions. Chavan must provide the investigating officer with a travel itinerary, Delhi residence addresses, reachable phone numbers, and a working email address before his departure. He is required to deposit Rs 1 lakh as security with the court for his travel. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Upon his return to Maharashtra, he has to report to the investigating officer and inform the court of his compliance. The ED was instructed to inform the court immediately if any of their apprehended activities by Chavan were noticed. Chavan must also undertake to attend the ED office immediately if his presence is required.
Indian Express
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Court allows khichdi scam accused to travel to Delhi for representing Sena UBT
A special court in Mumbai permitted Suraj Chavan, a close aide of Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray and an accused in the khichdi scam, to travel to Delhi for 'discharging important official and legal duties' in connection with the functioning of the party. The court allowed Chavan to travel to Delhi for 20 days this month, after furnishing an itinerary to the investigation officer of the Enforcement Directorate, which had arrested him in January 2024. Chavan was granted bail in February this year by the Bombay High Court. 'The applicant (Chavan) wanted to travel to Delhi for discharging important official and legal duties in connection with the functioning of Shiv Sena (UBT) and to represent the party before the Election Commission of India and to consult Senior Legal Counsels in relation to the pending proceeding before the Hon'ble Supreme Court concerning intra-party disputes and to attend the party meeting with the elected Members of Parliament belonging to Shiv Sena (UBT) at New Delhi. He is ready to obey the orders of the Court,' the court said, referring to Chavan's plea. His lawyers also had submitted that the right to travel is an aspect of fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution, and that there is nothing to show that he had previously misused the liberty granted to him. 'Considering the nature of application and purpose of travel, coupled with the fact that it will take time for trial to commence, the applicant is entitled to travel on certain conditions,' the court said in the order passed last week. He was directed to pay a deposit of Rs 1 lakh as security and to inform the ED on his return. Chavan was arrested by the ED alleging irregularities in work orders issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to supply khichdi to migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Former state youth chief of NCP Suraj Chavan & nine others surrender before police, released
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Suraj Chavan, who was compelled to resign from the position of NCP state youth president after assaulting Chhava Sanghatna office bearers for throwing cards at NCP state president Sunil Tatkare, surrendered to Latur police late on Tuesday along with nine others. All the accused were released on Wednesday morning after being issued notices and instructed to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. Police said the FIR registered against the suspects includes bailable sections, which resulted in their release. Latur superintendent of police Amol Tambe told TOI, "All the sections mentioned in the FIR have a punishment of seven or fewer years. According to the guidelines laid by the Supreme Court, arrest cannot be made under such sections." Sources within Latur police said in the coming days, police will initiate appropriate preventive measures to ensure that no law and order issues arise from similar incidents. The incident originated from a complaint lodged by Chhava Sanghatna's key office-bearer Vijay Ghadge, who, along with others, was assaulted by Chavan and other NCP workers after they threw playing cards at Tatkare. They also requested him to pass the cards to agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate, who allegedly appeared in a video showing him playing rummy during an assembly session. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No room on your Mac? Space Lens can easily and safely fix that MacPaw Read More Undo Despite Kokate denying the allegations of playing rummy on his cellphone, the matter has not subsided. At the time of the incident, Tatkare was addressing a news conference in Latur. Ghadge and others were assaulted, and the entire incident was recorded on camera, causing significant embarrassment to the NCP. Subsequently, party chief and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar took to social media to announce that Chavan was asked to resign from the position of the party's state youth president. Police reported that based on Ghadge's complaint, 11 NCP members, including Chavan, were charged by Latur police under sections of rioting and voluntarily causing hurt, among others. Additionally, the police invoked section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Suraj Chavan, who was compelled to resign from the position of NCP state youth president after assaulting Chhava Sanghatna office bearers for throwing cards at NCP state president Sunil Tatkare, surrendered to Latur police late on Tuesday along with nine others. All the accused were released on Wednesday morning after being issued notices and instructed to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. Police said the FIR registered against the suspects includes bailable sections, which resulted in their release. Latur superintendent of police Amol Tambe told TOI, "All the sections mentioned in the FIR have a punishment of seven or fewer years. According to the guidelines laid by the Supreme Court, arrest cannot be made under such sections." Sources within Latur police said in the coming days, police will initiate appropriate preventive measures to ensure that no law and order issues arise from similar incidents. The incident originated from a complaint lodged by Chhava Sanghatna's key office-bearer Vijay Ghadge, who, along with others, was assaulted by Chavan and other NCP workers after they threw playing cards at Tatkare. They also requested him to pass the cards to agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate, who allegedly appeared in a video showing him playing rummy during an assembly session. Despite Kokate denying the allegations of playing rummy on his cellphone, the matter has not subsided. At the time of the incident, Tatkare was addressing a news conference in Latur. Ghadge and others were assaulted, and the entire incident was recorded on camera, causing significant embarrassment to the NCP. Subsequently, party chief and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar took to social media to announce that Chavan was asked to resign from the position of the party's state youth president. Police reported that based on Ghadge's complaint, 11 NCP members, including Chavan, were charged by Latur police under sections of rioting and voluntarily causing hurt, among others. Additionally, the police invoked section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act.
NDTV
21-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Ajit Pawar Party Leader Suraj Chavan Told To Resign Amid Marathwada Protests
Ajit Pawar, who heads the Nationalist Congress Party, has asked Suraj Chavan to resign immediately from the position of state president of the party, following his involvement in the assault on Chhava Sanghatana activists in Latur. "In the backdrop of an extremely serious and condemnable incident that occurred in Latur yesterday, I have given clear instructions to Suraj Chavan, the state president of the Nationalist Youth Congress, to immediately resign from his post," Mr Pawar, who is also Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, posted on social media. What Happened in Latur? The flashpoint came during party MP Sunil Tatkare's Latur tour. While he was addressing the media, workers from the Chaava organisation interrupted the press conference and demanded the resignation of Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate. Vijaykumar Ghadge, a Chaava leader, threw playing cards at Tatkare, symbolically protesting against Mr Kokate, who was recently caught on camera allegedly playing rummy in the state assembly - a video that was made public by MLA Rohit Pawar. "The assembly is meant to make laws for farmers and common people of the state. It is not a place to play cards. Remove Kokate from his post, he is bringing disrepute to your party," Mr Ghadge told Mr Tatkare. The Aftermath and Attack Soon after the protest, NCP Youth Wing members, led by their president Suraj Chavan, attacked the Chaava workers and verbally abused them. According to NDTV sources, Mr Tatkare was at a different guest house when the incident took place. The police responded promptly by evacuating the NCP workers from the guest house and providing protection to Mr Ghadge. In a statement to NDTV, Suraj Chavan justified the attack by alleging that the Chaava workers had used "unconstitutional and lowly language" against their leader. However, no such remarks were found in the circulated video. Police Action and Chavan's Apology An FIR was registered against Mr Chavan and 12 others, though they are missing. Early this morning, Mr Chavan posted a video expressing regret over the incident. He reiterated that his reaction was due to alleged verbal insults against his party leader. "Some outlets are saying that we beat Vijay Ghadge because he spoke about the issues of the farmers. I am a son of a farmer, I consider it my duty to stand by anyone who's speaking for farmers. We did what we did because of the use of unconstitutional words. I regret the same. I'll soon meet Vijay Ghadge and clear his doubts," Mr Chavan said. What is Chaava? The Chaava Sanghatana is a Maratha youth organisation that promotes cultural values and advocates for farmers' issues in Marathwada. Though not formally aligned with any political party, the group has grown influential, especially among rural youth. Widening Protests Across Marathwada Following the Latur attack, Chaava called for a Latur Bandh, which was widely supported by Maratha organisations and farmers. Protests soon spread to Jalna, Sambhaji Nagar, Nanded, and Nashik, with demonstrators tearing down posters of Ajit Pawar and demanding action against both Chavan and Minister Kokate. Vijay Ghadge also reached out to Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange and farmers' leader Raju Shetti, who extended their support. Political Reactions The fallout from the Latur incident has drawn sharp reactions. While Sunil Tatkare distanced himself from the violence, clarifying that he was not present. However, leaders from the opposition came down heavily on the Ajit Pawar-led faction. Sanjay Raut of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) condemned the assault on Chaava workers, likening it to gang-style violence. He also hit out at the ruling alliance for shielding Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, questioning why Devendra Fadnavis had remained silent despite clear visual evidence of misconduct. "A minister is playing rummy - it's seen - yet he's supported. If this were any other party, Devendra Fadnavis wouldn't have left the staircase of Mantralay. He would've sat in protest," said Mr Raut. MLA Rohit Pawar stated that while Suraj Chavan's resignation was a necessary step, it was far from sufficient. "Maharashtra is awaiting the resignation of the Agriculture Minister, who has been rubbing salt in the wounds of farmers," wrote Mr Pawar, the grandnephew of Sharad Pawar. Rohini Khadse, another NCP-SP leader, echoed the sentiment. She described Chavan's removal as a "small fish" sacrifice to protect the "favoured big fish," insisting that the real political responsibility lay with Mr Kokate. Ms Khadse demanded that Ajit Pawar show political will by taking action against ministers who show disregard for the Assembly and the plight of farmers. While Ajit Pawar's faction has officially condemned the Latur incident and asked for Mr Chavan's resignation, they have stopped short of taking any disciplinary action against Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate.
India Today
21-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Ajit Pawar asks party youth wing chief to quit over assault on Maratha activists
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Youth Wing President Suraj Chavan has been removed from his post by party chief Ajit Pawar, after he and his associates allegedly assaulted Rajendra Patil, a leader of the Maratha organisation Pawar asked close aide Chavan to immediately resign from his position on X after a video of him beating Patil went incident, which took place in Latur, caused a major stir in Maharashtra's political circles. Following this, Maratha organisations called for a bandh (shutdown) in Latur. NCP state president Sunil Tatkare, who was in Dharashiv on a tour, was also confronted by Chhava activists demanding immediate action against Suraj On Saturday morning, Chhava once again called for a shutdown in Latur. Protests and road blockades by Chhava supporters were also seen in Dharashiv, Jalna, Nanded, and DID THE CONTROVERSY START?The issue began when NCP leader and Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate was allegedly caught playing rummy during the Assembly session. A video of this was tweeted by Rohit Pawar, a leader from Sharad Pawar's faction of the NCP. This led to growing demands for Kokate's express their opposition and push for Kokate's resignation, Rajendra Patil and other members of Chhava went to meet Sunil Tatkare in the meeting, they threw playing cards in front of him as a symbolic protest. This act was perceived as an insult by NCP leaders present, who then allegedly assaulted Patil and his supporters. The incident was caught on camera, clearly showing Suraj Chavan physically assaulting CHHAVA'S AGGRESSION MATTERSFounded in 1990, Chhava, a Maratha youth organisation, holds considerable sway in the community. Its strong hold among members of the Maratha and Bahujan communities is attributed to the group's aggressive stance on various issues. The group has also been involved in violent protests related to farmers and the Maratha Chhava's influence in the Maratha community across the state, the attack on its leaders could damage the NDA alliance's prospects in the upcoming NOW FOR MANIKRAO KOKATE?Since becoming Agriculture Minister, Manikrao Kokate has courted controversy multiple times. Initially, he expressed dissatisfaction with his ministry, comparing it to being appointed head of a deserted village. Later, he made headlines for saying that farmers wait for loan waivers so they can spend the money on lavish weddings and was also convicted by a court of illegally acquiring a government house in Nashik, although a stay was later granted on the sentence. While Kokate has not yet resigned, the controversy surrounding him has led to Suraj Chavan losing his post.- Ends
