‘MNS leader was beaten for attacking lady official’

A report submitted by the inspector general (IG) of police about policemen beating up Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) MLA Harshavardhan Jadhav has stated that the politician assaulted a lady constable on duty, instigating the police team to counter attack.

IG Sanjay Kumar told DNA, “Jadhav has been charged under section 354 of the Indian Penal Code for outraging the modesty of a woman. We have submitted the report today.”

In the report submitted to the home department on Monday, it is stated that Jadhav not only broke barricades and beat up a sub-inspector but also attacked a lady constable. This caused a police team on bandobast duty to beat up the MLA to maintain law and order.

Jadhav was beaten by the police last week when he tried to get past barricades during the visit of chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to Aurangabad. Jadhav has been admitted to a local hospital since then. Taking serious cognisance of the attack, home minister RR Patil had ordered an inquiry by the IG of Aurangabad.

MNS leader Nitin Sardesai termed this as a police conspiracy to cover up their guilt. “The MLA was beaten up in custody after detaining him at the spot of the incident. We are not denying that there was a scuffle between the MLA and the police, but the allegation of assault on a lady constable is a lie,” he said.