Katol incidents will be thoroughly investigated: Patil

Mumbai, Apr 10 (UNI) Maharahtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, who also holds the Home porfolio, today told the Legislative Council that Shiv Sena executive Uddhav Thackeray's name too figures, along with that of Mr Narayan Rane, in the complaints and cross-complaints lodged during the Lok Sabha by-election campaign in Ramtek on April 7.

Replying to the discussion initiated by Sena leader Madhukarrao Sarpotdar, Mr Patil said the cases will be properly investigated and the guilty booked. ''All are equal before law,'' he said.

However, BJP leader Nitin Gadkari hastened to point out that Mr Thackeray was not present in Katol but was in Nagpur at the time of the incident. Mr Patil agreed to this.

The issue of the FIR filed against Revenue Minister Narayan Rane dominated today's proceedings, and forced three adjournments. Later, the discussion started on the same issues with Mr Sarpotdar, Mr Raote and Mr Gadkari expresing their views.

Mr Patil, in his reply, said on April 7 the Congress candidate had taken out a procession at Katol which passed from near the Shiv Sena's. Purushottam Ghote of the Sena has lodged a complaint that he was beaten up by Mr Rane, Congress candidate Subodh Mohite and a mob of around 400 people. Cash of Rs 1200 was also snatched away from his pockets, according to the complaint by Mr Ghote.

Mr Patil said a counter-complaint has also been lodged against Mr Uddhav Thackeray, Subhash Desai, Chandrakant Khaire, Eknath Shinde and a mob of around 100 people.

The complaint and cross-complaint will be thoroughly investigated by the police, Mr Patil said.

UNI