Khadse claims fellow MLA's letterheads forged to 'defame' him

Senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse today claimed in the Legislative Assembly that letters claiming he has amassed disproportionate assets and demanding a probe were issued on the letterhead of his party colleague.

Khadse said the letters were forged since the MLA concerned Suresh Bhole had denied issuing any such letters.

Khadse, a former Revenue Minister, found support from Opposition MLAs who questionned the delay in registering the FIR in the matter as demanded by the BJP leader.

Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Deepak Kesarkar told the House tonight that an FIR was registered at 8:40 PM in Jalgaon.

Bhole, who represents Jalgaon city constituency, had filed a complaint against unidentified persons on July 14 on directions of Khadse.

Khadse said the letters were issued using Bhole's name to defame him.

"I asked the MLA concerned (Bhole) whether he wrote the letter. He said no. So I asked him to write a complaint to the police. He made a complaint, but no FIR has been registered. I request an FIR be filed," Khadse had said.

"Whoever wrote this concocted letter misusing the letter head (of Bhole)...strict action need to be taken against the person who used the letterhead," he demanded.

Khadse, who represents Muktainagar seat in Jalgaon district, said it was not difficult to find out who was behind issuing such letters.

The leader also cited two separate instances from the past to claim how he faced difficulties in registering FIRs.

Backing Khadse, NCP leader Dilip Walse-Patil said, "It is a serious matter that no FIR has been registered in the case till now despite a MLA (Bhole) making a complaint (last Saturday)".

He and other senior leaders of the Opposition requested Speaker Haribhau Bagde to direct the Jalgaon SP to register an FIR in this case "to find out who is the unidentified force behind this".

Bagde said he would first get information if the FIR was registered or not.

"If it has not been registered yet, it will be registered today," the speaker said.

Not satisfied with his response, the opposition leaders persisted that the FIR be registered immediately.

Following this, Bagde asked state minister Girish Bapat to get information relating to the complaint filed by Bhole.

Bapat, accompanied by Khadse, then went out of the House to speak to the officials concerned.

Kesarkar then announced registration of the FIR.