Jailed corporator may attend BMC meet

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) general body meeting on Tuesday may host a few unusual guests.

For the second time in its 135-year history, armed policemen will escort MCOCA-accused corporator Sunil Ghate to the hall while house proceedings are underway. A special MCOCA court on Thursday allowed Ghate, lodged in Thane jail, to attend the meetings scheduled for September 12 and 19. Ghate’s lawyer Ashok Gaykar said, “The court has allowed my client to attend the meetings. Police will accompany him from the jail to the BMC headquarters and will be present in the hall during the meeting. They will not leave him alone.”

Ghate will foot the expenses during the two-way travel from the jail to the BMC house and back. Since the Mumbai Municipal Act, 1980, disallows the entry of weapons in the house,  Mayor Datta Dalvi, said, “We have no issues with Ghate attending the meetings, but we are seeking legal opinion on whether police guards can be allowed in the house.”