Mumbai, March 18 (IANS). Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has received a big blow from the court. The Sessions Court has rejected the mayor’s bail plea in the famous teacher harassment case of 2016, allowing the trial against him to continue.
This case is related to the alleged clash that took place in an Urdu school in Santa Cruz. Mayor Tawde and six others have been accused of assaulting two teachers. It is said that this incident took place regarding the transfer of a teacher suffering from cancer. A First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against Tawde and co-accused under relevant sections for assault and related charges. The 2016 incident attracted widespread attention due to Tawde’s prominent role in local politics at the time.
The current Mayor of Mumbai, Tawde, had appealed in the court to be acquitted in the case citing lack of evidence. However, the prosecution put forward witness statements and other solid evidence supporting the allegations. During the hearing on the bail plea, Additional Sessions Judge YP Manathkar observed that several eyewitnesses had seen Mayor Tawde at the spot at the time of the incident. After this, the court rejected the bail plea saying, “Other witnesses had also seen petitioner Ritu Tawde at the time of the incident.” He also said that where the evidence raises “serious doubts”, the process of framing charges should proceed.
The court’s decision means the trial will proceed and Mayor Tawde could face potential legal consequences that could affect his political standing amid ongoing municipal governance issues in the city. There was no immediate response from Tawde or his legal team till the time of writing the report. This matter is being closely monitored in the political circles of Maharashtra.
–IANS
OP/AS
