Chhatrapati Shivaji descendent NCP MP held for extortion

Nationalist Congress Party MP Udayan Raje Bhosale was arrested here on Tuesday in connection with an allegation of assault and extortion levelled by a businessman.

Bhosale, a direct descendent of the warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji, appeared before the police after his anticipatory bail plea was dismissed by the Bombay High Court last week and by a Sessions Court in April.

Bhosale is among a dozen accused in the assault and extortion complaint lodged in March this year with Satara police by businessman Rajivkumar Jain, the owner of a company in which Bhosale controls a workers' union.

Following Bhosale's arrest, a tense situation prevailed in Satara and large part of the city and outskirts observed a spontaneous shutdown.

Elected from Satara Lok Sabha constituency, 51-year-old Bhosale is the 13th direct descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji and claimant to the title of 'Chhatrapati'.

Meanwhile, his vociferous supporters have warned that the government would have to bear the consequences of his arrest and sought Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' intervention.

--IANS

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