Setback for Sena: Shirdi candidate Gholap convicted in graft case

In what could be seen as a setback for the Shiv Sena, its candidate from the Shirdi Lok Sabha seat, sitting MLA Baban Gholap, has been convicted in a corruption case. Gholap and his wife Shashikala have been sentenced to three years in jail. The court also slapped a fine of Rs1 lakh on them.

Five-time MLA Gholap was announced as the Sena candidate to contest against Congress' Bhausaheb Waghchaure, who had contested the last election from a Sena ticket. He had defected to the Congress a month ago.

Gholap was to file his candidature for Shirdi constituency in a day or two. But that has been put on hold till the higher party authorities clears it.

Gholap has been indicted in a case filed against him by Milind Yevatkar, an NCP activist in 2001. Yevatkar has charged Gholap and his wife Shashikala for amassing disproportionate wealth.

Gholap's case had also gathered much attention after anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare staged an agitation against him. Gholap had then filed a defamation suit against Anna Hazare who had to go to jail for three months. The Maharashtra government had to suo moto use its powers to release Hazare after he was sentenced to jail by the court. Hazare was released and later the High Court also cleared him of the charges.