The Corporator Ashish Damle was seen dragging a woman out of the ashram.
The Nationalist Congress Party has expelled one of its Corporators in Maharashtra who allegedly barged into an ashram and assaulted the residents. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a probe into the incident that took place on Tuesday and assured action against the accused.
The entire incident has been caught on CCTV camera and a police case has been filed against the Corporator Ashish Damle.
"NCP has expelled the said corporator from the party as nobody has right to take law into their hands," NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik told NDTV. Top party leaders like Baramati MP Supriya Sule also condemned the act.
The CCTV footage shows Mr Damle forcefully entering the ashram of local spiritual leader Ratnakar Maharaj with around 25 of his men yesterday and assaulting some of the residents; he is even seen dragging a woman out of the building. The ashram management says Mr Damle and his men also looted Rs 1 lakh from the ashram.
The CCTV footage also shows some security personnel, leading to suspicion of involvement of policemen. Mr Damle is, meanwhile, on the run.
"Yesterday night in Kulgaon police station, Naresh Vitthal Ratnakar lodged a complaint. He had said that corporator Ashish Damle and his people arrived at his place and threatened him and beat him up. They also broke everything and even stole some money. He had a riffle for self-defense, they had even taken that away with them. Due to this offence, there is an FIR lodged against them under the sections of IPC 363, 395 and 504," police inspector Pankaj Giri said.
BJP Spokesperson Shaina NC said, "A Corporator is supposed to be a people's representative and here he's seen looting. It is shocking and appalling. Sacking from the party is not solution. We need to introspect as to what is happening in our public life and polity.