The Kashimira police has registered an FIR against a BJP corporator — and vice-president of BJP Thane and Palghar unit — and a mandap decorator for celebrating Gatari in a Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) school at Mashachapada last week.
The corporator had allegedly taken the keys of the school and used its water and electric supply for the celebrations.
The Kashimira police registered an FIR under Sections 451 and 447 of the IPC (trespassing) against the corporator, Anil Bhosale, and Rajan Patil, the decorator, based on a complaint by Vasudev Shirvalkar, a MBMC ward officer. The Kashimira police is yet to arrest two accused, said a Kashimira police officer.
According to Mr Shirvalkar’s complaint, a group led by Bhosale had entered the school building without permission to celebrate the festival, after sending invites for the event on a BJP WhatsApp group. The mandap decorator also used the school power and water supply for the function, which went on into the night, said the official. The BJP workers danced to the tunes of the film Sairat such as Zingaat. said Mr Shirvalkar. The dance video went viral in the twin cities of Mira and Bhayander, which led to the complaint.
Furthermore, after the party, the school looked like a dump, as empty boxes full of liquor bottles, cartons, food packets and other waste were strewn over the premises and the MBMC housekeeping staff had a tough time clearing the mess.
Bhosale, in his defence, said the party was not held on the civic school’s premises but on an adjacent plot belonging to a private owner. However, Suresh Deshmukh, education officer, MBMC, in his report said Bhosale had forcibly taken away the school keys from the authorities for the party and even constructed a pandal. Meanwhile, the MBMC has issued a show-cause notice to Bhosale and gave him a fortnight to reply to the same. Furthermore, Hemant Mhatre, district president, BJP, has also sought an explanation from Bhosale as the issue has reportedly brought embarrassment to the BJP top brass.
Ashadh Amavas or Gatari is the last day of Ashad, which precedes the sacred month of Shravan. To celebrate the occasion, the people of Maharashtra eat non-vegetarian food.
