Desai plans to file contempt of court case against CM, govt

A day after being denied entry into the inner sanctum of Shani Shinganapur temple in Maharashtra, Bhumata Ranragini Brigade president Trupti Desai today said she is planning to file a "contempt of court" case against Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state government.
"It was the CM who, in January, had extended his support to our cause and failed to protect us yesterday. Now we have already given a complaint to Supa police station against the police (who failed to protect women activists yesterday), local administration and trustees and demanded that a contempt of court case should be filed against CM and Maharashtra government," said Desai.

She alleged that whatever happened yesterday was a premeditated ploy to kill them.
"When villagers unleashed an attack on us and started beating us, police were standing as mere spectators and did not oppose them," she further alleged.
Desai claimed that she and other activists sustained bruises during the attack by villagers.
"We will wait till tomorrow as we feel that court will initiate a 'suo moto' action against Maharashtra government in yesterday's incident and if it does not happen, we are planning to file a contempt of court case against the CM and Maharashtra state for failing to implement the High Court ruling," informed Desai.

Desai and her 25 supporters, who were escorted till Pune district boundary by the Ahmednagar police, reached to the city in the wee hours today.

"After the contempt of court procedure, we are also planning to head to Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik," she said.
The Maharashtra BJP had yesterday slammed Desai, saying her agitation to force entry into the inner sanctum of the Shani Shinganapur temple was nothing but a "political stunt" seeking publicity.
Desai termed it as an irresponsible statement. She said instead of taking stern action against police, trustees and local administration for failing to give the women protection and implementing the court order immediately, such wrong statements were being made.

Armed with a Bombay High Court order to end gender discrimination at temples, women activists yesterday made a determined bid to storm the inner sanctum of Shani Shinganapur temple, but were stopped by villagers and later detained by police.
The HC had on Friday ruled that entry to temples was a fundamental right of women and it was the state's fundamental duty to protect it.