Former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan’s driver arrested for assault and molestation in Nepean Sea road building

Akela

THE controversial former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ashok Shankarrao Chavan’s driver and his brothers have been arrested by Malabar Hill police, South Mumbai. The accused residing in Nepean Sea road were arrested for allegedly assaulting boys and a man and molesting a woman.

The accused identified as Luv Gaikwad (33), Kush Gaikwad (33) (both are twins) and Suryakant Gaikwad (45). These accused are residents of 87/B Prem Milan Building, Napean Sea Road. Luv is the driver of Ashok Chavan.

The incident occurred on Sunday at wee hours around 1.30am. A youth Sapan Shah and his sister who lives on the 7th floor in Prem Milan building had organized a party as his parents were out of city. Three boys and two girls were going to participate in the party. The girls went through lift and boys were going up through staircase. They were chatting in English. At that time Luv and Kush interrupted them and started abusing them in English. They were drunk.

A heated argument started between them. The Gaikwad brothers attacked and punched them claiming to be driver of Ashok Chavan. The injured boy phoned his parents. His parents who live nearby, at  Altamount road rushed on the spot. The Gaikwad brothers also assaulted the parents and molested the lady. The third brother of Luv and Kush and another man helped were partners in crime.

The two girls rushed to Malabar Hill police and took police to the building. Police took three brothers to the police station and arrested them.

“We have arrested three accused-one of them is driver of former CM Ashok Chavan- under sections 354-A (sexual harassment), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 34 (common intention) of IPC,” said a police officer on condition of anonymity.

The accused were produced in holiday court on Sunday, where they were set free on cash bail of Rs 10,000 each. Police is looking for their fourth accomplice who had fled from the spot.

On Tuesday police visited the building to record the statement of society secretary and security guard, Vijay.

Driver’s terror in the building

The Gaikwad brothers have terrorized the residents of the building. No one dares to oppose them as one of them is the driver of former chief minister Ashok Chavan. BJP corporator Jyotsana Ben lives in the same building. One of their brothers is a regular drinker. Few years back one of them was arrested as society had registered complaint against him.

The controversial Chief Minister

56-year-old Ashok Chavan had sworn in on 8 December 2008, after his political party, the Indian National Congress and Vilasrao Deshmukh selected him to be Vilasrao Deshmukh’s successor on 5 December 2008. He earlier served as Minister for Cultural Affairs, Industries, Mines and Protocol.

Apart from the much discussed Adarsh Housing Society Scam, Ashok Chavan was accused of using his office to fund his relatives’ bank. In 2009 Assembly Elections, he was accused of hiding expenses on a paid supplement titled Ashok Parva in a leading Marathi daily.

On 9 November 2010, the Congress Party sacked Ashok Chavan over corruption allegations.