Ghate's plea to be heard on Sept 7

Mumbai, Sep 5 (UNI) A special MCOCA court today directed the prosecution to furnish details about the expenditure on security that is likely to be incurred to enable a corporator, at present in jail, to attend civic body meetings.

Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS) corporator in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Sunil Sadashiv Ghate, currently lodged in the Thane prison in connection with an extortion case, had moved an application urging that he be allowed to participate in civic meetings this monthto discuss issues pertaining to his ward number 28.

Special court judge Mridula Bhatkar, in response to the petition, directed the prosecution to submit details on the expenditure that is likely to be incurred if Ghate is allowed to attend the meetings and then adjourned the matter till September 7.

In his application, Ghate said he has not been able to attend the meetings since October last year and his continued absence would cause his electorate to lose faith in him. He prayed that he be allowed to attend civic meetings on September 12, 14, 18, 19 and 21.

Ghate was arrested on March 10 this year for allegedly extorting a hotelier. He has as many as 19 cases registered against him, including three in his tenure as a corporator.

UNI ST MAZ SKB SI RS1835