Mumbai: The Maharashtra Government on Friday announced a special investigation team (SIT) probe into the allegations of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s close aide Salim Kutta partying with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sudhakar Badgujar at the latter’s farm in Nashik, despite being on Parole. However, the Sena leader has refuted the allegations about him.
Badgujar is Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Nashik City chief, whereas Salim Kutta is a 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict and was convicted by a special TADA court in connection with the March 12, 1993 serial blasts that killed 257 persons and injured over 700. He has been awarded lifetime imprisonment and since then has been lodged in the Nashik Central Jail.
The issue was raised in the Vidhan Sabha by the BJP MLA Nitesh Rane, who shared photos and videos of the dance party. “Accused Salim Kutta, who has been given life imprisonment, was out on parole. On the last day of his parole, he was seen partying with Badgujar. This is a very serious issue and should be investigated thoroughly,” he said.
Replying to him, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the allegations are serious. “A detailed investigation will be done by the SIT and it will also be investigated if there were anyone’s blessings for such acts and strict action will be taken,” said Fadnavis, who is also the state Home Minister.
“No such party or activities are allowed while on parole. He (Salim Kutta) has violated the parole norms. It is a very serious issue as the criminal is seen partying and dancing in the photos and videos. It needs to be checked who the (other) people are and whose blessings they have. We will probe the issue by SIT in a time-bound manner,” he said.
Speaking in Nashik, Badgujar said that the video that Rane claimed to have could be a morphed one. “I never had any links with Salim Kutta. The allegations have been levelled with political motives. I did not have any links with him. If we met in public life at some point, I do not remember it,” he said.
