Wednesday, Dec 04, 2013
Mumbai Even as Maharashtra Industries Minister Narayan Rane’s son Nitesh, was arrested and then released on bail for vandalising a toll booth and attacking its staff near Panaji, Goa, on Tuesday, some of his supporters were also picked up by the police in Mumbai this morning for damaging four Goa-bound buses to protest against his arrest.
A local court in Goa granted bail to Nitesh and three others who were released late last night. Pernem police had arrested nine people, including Nitesh, last evening. Whilst the court granted bail to four, five others were taken for remand today.
Nitesh and his aides were on their way to Dabolim airport in Goa from Sindhudurg district in a convoy of private cars to catch a flight to Mumbai when they were asked to pay the toll fees at the plaza in Pernem village on the Goa-Maharashtra order. A toll fee is charged from all non-Goa-registered vehicles when they enter the neighbouring state. An enraged Nitesh along with his supporters assaulted the staff, employed by the Goa Public Works Department, and smashed the toll operator’s cabin.
He was later picked up by police from a hotel in Calangute which is operated by a company owned by the Rane family.
Meanwhile, in Mumbai’s Borivili suburb, five persons suspected to be associated with an NGO, Swabhiman Sanghatna, run by Nitesh, were arrested this morning for allegedly vandalizing four Goa-bound tourist buses while protesting their leader’s arrest in Goa. Windows of the buses of Neeta Travels, parked on Link Road, were smashed with hockey sticks a and stones were also pelted at night.
It also appears that the name board of Goa Bhavan in suburban Juhu, Mumbai, was also damaged by unidentified people today.
Narayan Rane, who was Maharashtra chief minister when he was with the Sena and then joined the Congress , is a powerful politician in the Konkan region which borders Goa. His elder son Nilesh is a MP from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency.
By Pamela Raghunath, Correspondent
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