Summary:
Pune, Sep 20 (PTI) Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya on Monday claimed he was stopped by police at Karad in Maharashtra while he was on way to Kolhapur, after the district authorities cited law and order as well as security concerns following his allegations of corruption against Maharashtra Rural Development Minister Hasan Mushrif.
After being stopped, Somaiya addressed a press conference in Karad, alleging that attempts were made by Mumbai police on Sunday night to prevent him from boarding a Kolhapur-bound train and he was also jostled.
The BJP leader also said he would soon go to Kagal in Kolhapur, the Assembly constituency represented by Mushrif, and file a police complaint against the minister over alleged irregularities committed by him.
Reacting to the episode, the ruling Shiv Sena alleged that the BJP was trying destablise the Maharashtra government, while BJP state chief Chandrakant Patil claimed that there was misuse of power and accused state ministers of indulging in corruption.
A few days back, Somaiya had accused Mushrif of indulging in corruption and holding "benami" entities in the name of his kin, allegations dismissed as baseless by the latter.
Somaiya, who boarded the Mahalaxmi Express in Mumbai on Sunday night to go to Kolhapur, in a tweet on Monday morning said, "Police stopped me at Karad under prohibitory order." Kolhapur Superintendent of Police Shailesh Balkawde told PTI that a team of district police reached Karad, and Somaiya was stopped at Karad railway station and served a copy of the (prohibitory) order.