BJP MLA gets 3 months jail for assaulting MSEDCL employee

BJP MLA Raju Todsam has been sentenced to three months imprisonment by a court here for abusing and assaulting an employee of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL).
The Third Joint Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate (First Class) of Pandharkawda court, H A Wani, also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Todsam, who is an MLA from Arni-Kelapur.
If he does not pay the fine, he would have to serve an additional month in jail, the court said in its verdict pronounced yesterday.
On December 17, 2013, Todsam, the former Pandharkawda taluka president of BJP, along with his associates had barged into the MSEDCL office in Pandharkawda and alleged that they had been issued inflated bill, according to the prosecution.

Upon getting an unsatisfactory response, Todsam abused the employees. He even held Assistant Accountant Vilas Aakate by the collar of his shirt and threatened him of dire consequences, it was alleged.
Acting on a police complaint by Aakate, police registered a case under sections 294 (obscene acts and songs), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC against Todsam.

The statements of 10 witnesses were recorded in the case, and after hearing the counsel, the court found Todsam guilty.

He was sentenced to three months imprisonment under section 294 of IPC. Under section 353, he was further sentenced to three months imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50. He would have to undergo an additional 10-day imprisonment if he does not pay the fine.
Both the sentences would run concurrently.
Sources close to the MLA said they would challenge the verdict in higher court.