Sharad Pawar residence attack: Lawyer Gunaratna Sadavarte moves sessions court for bail

Gunaratna Sadavarte. File Pic

Lawyer Gunaratna Sadavarte who was arrested in connection with a protest staged by MSRTC workers at NCP chief Sharad Pawar's residence moved a bail plea before a sessions court here on Wednesday.

Sadavarte's earlier attempt to seek bail was rejected by additional chief metropolitan magistrate (Girgaon court) Jaywant Chandrakant Yadav.

The lawyer, who claims to represent the striking employees of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), was arrested soon after the protest that took place at Pawar's residence Silver Oak on April 8.

In his fresh plea, moved through advocate Girish Kulkarni, Sadavarte claimed that the case against him was "politically motivated".

The lawyer in his plea has claimed that he was not present on the spot, and hence, the sections he has been booked under do not apply to him.

Sadavarte's bail application will be heard on Thursday.

The police have so far arrested over 118 persons in connection with the agitation staged by striking MSRTC workers at Silver Oak.

Fifth FIR registered against lawyer Sadavarte, this time in Solapur city

An FIR has been registered against lawyer Gunratna Sadavarte in Maharashtra's Solapur district for allegedly promoting enmity among different groups and for contempt of court, a police official said on Wednesday.

This is the fifth FIR registered against him in the state in the last couple of weeks.

Sadavarte, who claimed to represent the striking workers of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), was arrested along with several state transport workers by the Mumbai police earlier this month after they staged a sudden and fierce protest outside NCP chief Sharad Pawar's residence in south Mumbai.

Following the incident, different FIRs were registered against him in Mumbai, Satara, Kolhapur and Akola, an official said.

"The latest FIR was registered around 11.15 pm on Tuesday at Faujdar Chawdi police station in Solapur city," he said.

Talking about the case, the official said, "While speaking about the verdict of a court on Maratha reservation, lawyer Sadavarte had made some objectionable comments, following which an office-bearer of Chhava Sanghatna, an organisation, had lodged a complaint against Sadavarte."

Acting on his complaint, the FIR was registered against him under section 153 A, 153 B, 500, 505 (1), 505 (2) of IPC and section 2 of Contempt of Court Act, he said.
Police had first arrested Sadavarte on April 8 on the charge of rioting and conspiracy in connection with the attack on NCP chief Sharad Pawar's residence 'Silver Oak' by the striking MSRTC employees, he said.

So far 118 persons have been arrested in the case, he said, adding that Sadavarte's wife Jayshree Patil is also shown as accused in the case.

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