Overview
- Devendra Fadnavis, who oversees home affairs, said Monday he sent Satara SP Tushar Doshi on leave to ensure a free and fair probe.
- Additional SP Vaishali Kadukar now heads the district police, while Doshi says he is on approved earned leave until April 6.
- The action follows claims that police stopped some Shiv Sena and NCP members from voting during the March 20 Zilla Parishad president election, and that two ministers were manhandled.
- Despite the Sena–NCP alliance holding a majority in the 65-member body, the BJP won the post after reports of cross-voting and two NCP members being arrested on their way to vote.
- Shiv Sena staged protests and sought Doshi’s suspension, as a deputy council chair ordered his removal and the council chairman questioned that power, with the government calling leave a middle path to defuse the dispute.