Mumbai: Amid mounting pressure and fierce attacks from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Minister of Forests Sanjay Rathod, whose name appeared in the death of TikTok star Pooja Chavan, resigned on Sunday (February 28th).
Rathod met with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and tendered his resignation on the eve of the budget session of the Maharashtra legislature that begins Monday.
A prominent Banjara community leader, Rathod (49), accompanied by his wife Shital, met Thackeray at the latter’s official residence and discussed the issue for about 30 minutes before surrendering his resignation to the CM.
The Chief Minister also refused to consider the pleas of the ‘mahants’ of the Banjara community, even while awaiting the report of the investigation into the death of the social media star.
To toughen the BJP’s stance, opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis threatened to remove BJP lawmakers from the joint select committee of the Shakti bill, which is being adapted to the Disha Law proposing crucial changes to existing laws. on violence against women and children.
“Sanjay Rathod resigned … However, that does not imply that he is innocent,” said Pravin Darekar, leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra Council.
Both leaders have demanded that an FIR be filed against Rathod in the Chavan case, although the former minister has consistently denied all the accusations made against him.
Rathod’s name came up after the death of Chavan (22) in Pune on 7 February.
“The opposition is playing dirty politics in this matter … The truth will come out in the investigation. They threatened not to allow the Legislative Session and interrupt the proceedings,” Rathod said after resigning.
Chavan came from the Banjara community and was a native of Parli-Vaijanath in the Beed district.
Her family wrote to the CM denouncing the movements to politicize her death and killing her several times after her death.
They also rejected measures to link the minister with her, saying that they had never requested Rathod’s resignation, but had full faith in the ongoing police investigation.
Chavan died after falling from the balcony of an apartment in the Hadapsar area of Pune. The police have registered an accidental death report (ADR) and are investigating the matter.
After Chavan’s death, Fadnavis had sent a letter to DGP Hemant Nagrale along with 12 audio clips about the incident, demanding an investigation.
Although Thackeray had secured an investigation, Rathod continued as minister and staged a massive show of force at the Poharadevi temple in Washim district last week.
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