Khedekar publisher granted bail by Pune court

Maratha Seva Sangh founder Purushottam Khedekar on Thursday surrendered before the court of judicial magistrate (first class), RL Wankhade, in connection with his book with comments that could spread enmity between two communities.

Former BJP corporator Shyam Satpute had filed a complaint with the Bund Garden police on June 11 against Khedekar, who wrote the Marathi Shivarayanchya Badnamichee Kendre (Centres of defamation of Maratha King Shivaji) and the publisher of the book, Kishor Kadu. The book was published in 2009. Both Khedekar and Kadu surrendered before the court at around 2.30 pm.
According to the complaint, Khedekar has targeted a particular community by allegedly using abusive language.

The duo was remanded in 14-day magisterial custody. The defence lawyers, Arun Dhamale, Hemant Zanjad and Sameer Ghatge, moved a bail application on which the judge directed the investigation officer to file his say.

The prosecution told the court that if the duo was released on bail they might abscond. The police needed to identify the motive behind writing the book, and to ascertain if the book had been published by any other publisher. The police also needed to check what references were used by Khedekar to write the book. The court granted bail to the duo on personal bonds of Rs15,000 each and surety of the same amount.