In Navi Mumbai, three members of the Hindutva organization Sambhaji Brigade were apprehended on Friday after an incident at the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) headquarters in CBD-Belapur. The activists blackened the face of MPSC secretary Mahendra Harpalkar during a meeting where they purportedly intended to provide evidence related to the MPSC exam paper leak and present a book as a gift. This act has raised concerns about the methods employed by activist groups to draw attention to alleged irregularities in the examination process.
DCP (zone-2) Amit Kale said the three activists—Suhas Laxman Rane (50) from Sakinaka, Yogesh Shantilal Patil (34) from Kalyan, and Shrikrishna alias Annasaheb Adinath Sawant (50) from Ahilyanagar district—took an appointment with Harpalkar the day before the attack and also got permission to carry a phone with them, claiming it had evidence related to the paper leak. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Mumbai | Silver Rate in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Petrol Price in Mumbai | Diesel Price in Mumbai | CNG Price in Mumbai | LPG Price in Mumbai Stay updated with the latest Mumbai news.
The outfit’s spokesperson, Santosh Shinde, said the act in protest of the paper leak and alleged irregularities in MPSC. The security alerted CBD-Belapur police, who arrested the three activists,” said Kale. Arun Pawar, senior inspector, CBD-Belapur police, said charges under BNS for assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging their official duty, assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty, voluntarily causing hurt, aggravated criminal intimidation, intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the public peace and joint criminal liability have been invoked against the three. Kale said police security at the MPSC headquarters and screening of all visitors have been tightened. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar , who has been a vocal critic of MPSC’s handling of the paper leak, denounced the attack and said such tactics of protest are unacceptable. He said the agitation must remain peaceful and democratic, stressing that unlawful actions will dilute the integrity of the MPSC aspirants’ fight for justice.
He threatened that activists will next target MPSC chairperson Vivek Bhimanwar if he and Harpalkar do not resign over the controversy. Bhimanwar was not on the premises. When they met Harpalkar, they pretended they were going to gift him a book and take photos on the phone. Sawant and Rane then took out a plastic bag containing black powder that they dumped on his head and smeared on his face, while Patil filmed the attack on the phone. The video was circulated on social media. “Thereafter, the activists started blaming Harpalkar, by holding him accountable for the exam paper leak and alleged irregularities in MPSC. NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, too, condemned the attack and asked those protesting against MPSC’s functioning to stay within the framework of the Constitution. Download the TOI App.