Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan Clash: FIRs Against Jitendra Awhad, Two Arrested; Both Accused Declared Habitual Offenders

Mumbai: Tensions flared in the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan on Thursday as a scuffle broke out between supporters of BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Jitendra Awhad. The Marine Drive Police have registered two separate FIRs in connection with the incident and taken swift action.

On Friday, Marine Drive Police registered an FIR against MLA Jitendra Awhad for allegedly obstructing official work and misusing his position during a protest outside the Assembly. According to police, after a verbal altercation inside the Assembly premises, Awhad and his supporters staged a protest and deliberately blocked a police vehicle that was attempting to detain his aide, Nitin Deshmukh. Awhad stood in front of the vehicle, preventing it from moving. With the Speaker’s consent, an FIR was filed against Awhad under Sections 132, 189(1)(a), 189(1)(b), 189(1)(e), 189(2), 189(3), 190 and 126(2) of the BNS for hindering a police operation.

Meanwhile, in a separate case of physical assault inside the Vidhan Bhavan, police late Thursday night arrested two individuals—Sarjerao Baban Takle, a political worker associated with MLA Padalkar, and Nitin Hindurao Deshmukh, affiliated with Awhad. The complaint in this case was lodged by Assembly security officer Sachin Vitthal Patne, who stated that a group of about 6–7 unidentified individuals, along with the two named accused, created a ruckus near the main porch, exchanged abusive language, and got into a fistfight. Police officers attempting to intervene were allegedly manhandled.

Both Takle and Deshmukh were produced before Esplanade court on Friday, where the police sought seven days’ custody. The prosecution argued that the clash was pre-planned and linked to an earlier altercation between the two groups four days ago. CCTV footage reportedly shows the accused inciting and participating in violent behavior while officials were performing their duties. Both accused were remanded to police custody for three days.

Police also revealed that Sarjerao Takle has a criminal background with six prior FIRs registered against him, while Deshmukh faces seven criminal cases. Takle was accused of entering the Assembly premises without authorization, prompting investigators to determine who granted him access.

Additionally, police informed the court that Jitendra Awhad had exchanged messages with his supporters before the incident. The transcript of one such message was submitted as evidence. However, Takle's lawyer argued that all charges against his client were bailable and claimed Takle had not committed any cognizable offence. Deshmukh’s lawyer contended that his client had entered the Assembly premises in an official capacity and acted alone.

Both defence counsels requested judicial custody instead of police custody. Police asserted that more accused seen in CCTV footage are yet to be identified and arrested. The arrest of Sarjerao Takle was conducted under Section 47 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Takle’s criminal record includes cases registered at Bhilawadi and Palus police stations under Sections 354(B), 323, 504, 143, 147, 148, 149, 332, 353, 438, and 506 of the IPC. His consistent involvement in previous violent incidents has led authorities to classify him as a habitual offender.

Accused Nitin Hindurao Deshmukh (42), a contractor by profession and a resident of Flat No. 246, Shriram Society, Anand Ghar, Vikhroli Parksite, has also been identified by police as a habitual offender, with multiple cases registered against him across various police stations in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

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The criminal cases against Deshmukh include:

• Goregaon Police Station: Sections 420 (Cheating), 506 (Criminal intimidation)

• Rabale Police Station: Sections 452 (House trespass), 323 (Voluntarily causing hurt), 506, 507, 447

• Parksite Police Station: Sections 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons), 504 (Intentional insult), 34 (Common intention)

• Parksite Police Station: Sections 354 (Outraging modesty of a woman), 504

• Parksite Police Station: Sections 4 and 5 of the Gambling Act

• Additional non-cognizable offences: Sections 323, 504, 506 at Rabale and Parksite Police Stations

Given this background, authorities have labeled Deshmukh a repeat offender. His involvement in the recent Vidhan Bhavan incident is being thoroughly probed, and his criminal history is expected to influence the investigation. The police are continuing their investigation and reviewing surveillance footage to identify additional culprits and uncover the origin of the alleged conspiracy behind the Assembly clash.