Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sudhakar Badgujar appeared before the Nashik city police on Thursday after an externment order was issued against him. While the police have cited it as a preventive action in view of the Lok Sabha election, Badgujar claimed it was “politically motivated”.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Shekhar Deshmukh said, “In 2014, a case was registered against Badgujar. The court convicted him and sentenced him and three others to three years of imprisonment.” A notice was served on April 20 to Badgujar and others who were convicted in the case.
“We asked them to appear and present their case before us as to why they should not be externed from the city limits. However, he had then asked for a month’s time but as voting is on May 20, he was allotted time till May 8,” said a senior police officer. Nashik is among the 13 seats that go to voting on May 20 in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024. Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Rajabhau Waje is up against two-time sitting MP Hemant Godse of the Shiv Sena Shinde faction.
But as he did not respond to the first notice, a second notice was issued to Badgujar by the Deputy Commissioner of police (zone 2) of Nashik late on Wednesday, asking him to appear before the police at 11 am on Thursday.
The police said Badgujar and two others were arrested by the Ambad police for refraining government servants from performing their duties during the Lok Sabha elections in 2014. The three accused had then tried to assault police personnel.
When The Indian Express reached out to Badgujar for his comment on the police action, he said, “As per the orders, I went and appeared before the police. I have asked them for 30 more days to respond to the notice; however, they claimed that they could give me only 10 days’ time as the election is on May 20, so I am waiting for further instruction.”
The Shiv Sena leader said the five cases cited in the notice were registered more than a decade ago.
“I have been acquitted in four of them by the court. I was convicted in only one case that was registered against me in 2014. I have appealed against the conviction in the high court,” said Badgujar.
“How can they take action against me when the matter is sub judice? The government is trying to pressurise me by using police machinery,” he added.