The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is on the backfoot after its mayor in Miraj, Mainuddin Bagwan was named as a perpetrator of communal riots in 2009. While the party has not disowned or condemned Mr Bagwan, NCP leaders have questioned the police officer’s intentions in naming Mr Bagwan as the absconding accused in the Sangli riots.
SP Krishna Prakash, who was posted in Sangli in 2009, has claimed that Mr Bagwan had instigated the riots. Mr Bagwan is a close associate of NCP leader Jayant Patil, who was the state home minister at the time of riots. He fled Miraj after an arrest warrant was issued against him.
Mumbai NCP chief Narendra Verma denied that Mr Bagwan is an absconding accused. He said, “Bagwan met Mr Patil in Mumbai only a couple of days before SP Prakash claimed that he is absconding in the Miraj riots case. When a person is available in his office and meeting a minister, then how can he be called absconding? These claims are being made only for cheap publicity.” Mr Patil also admitted that Mr Bagwan had met him in Mumbai, but added that he does not know about his current whereabouts. “When he met me, I did not know that he was an absconding accused in the riots case. Mr Prakash disclosed it couple of days later. I don’t know where he is now. But he will go to the police and public and clear his name,” he said.