Maharashtra CIC Ratnakar Gaikwad assaulted over demolition of Ambedkar Bhawan; 8 held

Mumbai: At least eight persons, including an ex-corporator of Bharip-Bhaujan Mahasangh were arrested for assaulting Maharashtra’s Chief Information Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad at Aurangabad on Monday, police said.

The incident took place at 3.30 pm at Subhedari government guest house where Gaikwad had gone for some official work, they said.

According to police, Gaikwad was manhandled as he got down from the car by supporters of Bharip-Bahujan Mahasangh, a political party of Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar.

“The assailants were supporters of Prakash Ambedkar, who has been critical of Gaikwad over demolition of the ‘Ambedkar Bhawan’ in Mumbai last year,” Wasim Hasmi, senior Police Inspector of Begumpura Police Station, told PTI.

Police personnel deployed at the guest house had rushed to rescue Gaikwad, he said. The reason for the attack was Gaikwad’s alleged involvement in demolition of the Ambedkar Bhavan, Hasmi said. “We have registered an offence and arrested eight persons including ex corporator Amit Bhuigal of Bharip-Bahujan Mahasangh,” he added.

Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, had filed an FIR against Gaikwad, former chief secretary, and Madhukar Kamble, trustee of the People’s Improvement Trust, in connection with the demolition of the historic Ambedkar Bhavan in central Mumbai.

Prakash Ambedkar was unavailable for comment.