After Aaditya, Father Uddhav Faces Serious Allegations, Probe Indicated

After serious allegations were levelled against Aaditya Thackeray in Maharashtra legislative assembly on Thursday (Dec 22), it was the turn of his father and former chief minister Uddhav to be the target of grave charges in the house on Friday. Independent MLA Ravi Rana demanded a special investigation team (SIT) probe against Uddhav by alleging that the former CM had ordered Amaravati police officials to investigate local businessman Umesh Kolhe’s murder earlier this year as a case of robbery. Rana said that Kolhe was killed for supporting Nupur Sharma, the BJP’s ousted spokesperson for her certain remarks. The killers had now been booked by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for murder. Minister Shambhuraj Desai said that due to the gravity of the matter, details will be sought from the state intelligence agency and placed before chief minister Eknath Shinde for a final decision. Ravi Rana and his wife, independent MP Navneet Rana, have been at loggerheads with Uddhav for a long time. Their attempt to chant Hanuman Chalisa outside his residence had become highly controversial. Later, both had demanded transfer of then Amaravati police commissioner Aarti Singh for shabbily handling the Kolhe case. Singh was transferred last week as demanded by the couple. The allegations against the Thackerays are viewed against the backdrop of opposition demand for Shinde’s resignation over the Nagpur land issue.