Ex-Maha LoP's brother seeks action against him for 'fraud'

Ashok Vikhe Patil, the elder brother of former Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Sunday announced an indefinite hunger strike from Monday near the statue of his grandfather late Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil at Loni in Ahmednagar district.

Ashok said he wanted the state government to investigate "irregularities" committed by Radhakrishna, his wife Shalini, and son Sujay by not paying the FRP to sugarcane to farmers.

He also alleged that Radhakrishna received funds from a trust run by controversial Islamic preacher zakir Naik, who is wanted by the NIA and ED in various cases.

"Radhakrishna, Sujay and their family members run three cooperative sugar factories. They have not paid the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) to cane growers," he alleged.

Ashok, a businessman by profession, said as per rules, sugarcane factories must pay Rs 2550 per tonne to farmers but the factories run by Radhakrishna and kin paid only Rs 1800.

"Farmers have not yet received payment for the cane sold to these factories since the last one year," he alleged.

Radhakrishna had resigned as the opposition leader, days after his son Sujay joined the BJP and contested his maiden Lok Sabha election from Ahmednagar constituency.

Ashok alleged the state government was purposefuly not taking action against Radhakrishna since he had campaigned for the BJP in polls.

Radhakrishna, Shalini and Sujay control Pravara Education Trust, Mula Pravara Cooperative Electrical Society, Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil sugar factory to name a few.

Shalini is the president of Ahmednagar Zilla Parishad.

Radhakrishna didn't respond to calls for reaction despite several attempts.