Author: Somit Sen
Publication: The Times of India
Date: January 9, 2010
BJP state spokesperson Madhav Bhandari has
demanded action against a "senior politician" from the Nationalist
Congress Party (NCP) for allegedly sheltering Joseph Paulson in Nashik when
the latter was on the run.
Paulson was wanted by Mumbai police for organising
a party at Chembur Gymkhana on December 25 where cops were seen rubbing shoulders
with Chhota Rajan gangsters. He and his wife Mary, both of whom were NCP activists,
have now been dismissed from the party.
"But why target only the Paulsons,"
asked Bhandari at a press conference at the state BJP office on Friday. "According
to our sources, there were at least two Congress and a few politicians from
Mumbai NCP at the party. Why is no action taken against them?"
Bhandari demanded that the state home department
should order a detailed probe into the video tapes and find out a list of
every guest at the party. "There were more cops present and only five
have been suspended," Bhandari said. He also termed the suspension an
eyewash. "There is groupism within the police force and the five cops
have been targeted selectively," he said, adding that the list of other
policemen present at the party should also be made public.
Bhandari claimed some of the "wanted"
gangsters were also present at the party. "Did the police make any efforts
to nab them after the event?" He demanded that the video tapes of the
party should be sent for forensic examination to ascertain whether those suspended
were video-shooted during the party. "The suspension was done in a hurry.
We demand a detailed inquiry," he said.
Paulson was earlier in BSP and had joined
NCP before the last Lok Sabha elections. "R R Patil, who was the state
NCP president when Paulson was inducted, should have checked his credentials
and nexus with gangsters before assigning him portfolio in the Mumbai NCP,"
he said, adding that Patil should also put an end to "groupism"
in the state police force.
