CCTV footage is unclear; govt likely to revoke suspension.
The state government-appointed committee, which was set up to probe the alleged assault of police sub-inspector (PSI) Sachin Suryavanshi by some members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) in the Vidhan Bhavan, has decided to summon all the witnesses of the incident.
The witnesses are being summoned because the CCTV footage that had captured the fighting between the MLAs and Suryavanshi is unclear and reveals little about the MLAs involved. Five MLAs were suspended from the assembly after the incident, while the PSI, who was injured in the attack, was suspended from duty a few days later.
Ganpatrao Deshmukh, who heads the panel, told DNA on Saturday that they had already met once and would meet again on Monday to discuss the suspension of the five MLAs, including Ram Kadam (MNS) and Kshitij Thakur (Bhahujan Vikas Aghadi), who were arrested and later released on bail.
“We have called both the parties and will hear them out. If there is any discrepancy in their narrations and statements, then we will ask them to bring eyewitnesses to prove their innocence. And on the basis of their statements, the report will be prepared,” the 86-year-old Deshmukh said.
The Peasants and Workers’ Party member averred that the committee could revoke the suspension of the five MLAs. “We will function like a court and this committee has all judicial powers. We have decided to prepare and submit the report before this ongoing state assembly session ends,” Deshmukh added.
Meanwhile, sources said the state government was keen to end the controversy as soon as possible and had asked the committee to work fast. “This committee was formed to keep the police at bay and exercise the MLAs’ power. The state government is likely to revoke the suspension of all the five MLAs and hand out a small punishment to Suryavanshi,” a source said.
sudhir_s@dnaindia.net
@ss_suryawanshi
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