Pune: The Yavat police on Wednesday filed a case against NCP‘s Bhor MLA Shankar Mandekar’s brother, Balasaheb, and three others on the charge of firing in the air on the night of July 21 during a performance by ‘tamasha’ (traditional folk dance) artists at a Kala Kendra in Kedgaon near Yavat, off the Pune-Solapur highway. The bullet hit a wall before getting stuck in the ceiling of the establishment. No one was injured. The police registered the case on the day NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, while addressing a press conference after a party office-bearers’ meeting in the city, accused the police of “covering up a firing incident involving an MLA’s brother”. “According to our information, the brother of an MLA from Mahayuti went to the centre (kendra). He fired some shots, in which a woman suffered injury. The MLA was not present there, but the police have been trying to cover up the incident,” Rohit said. Before the interaction with reporters, Rohit on his “X” handle demanded police action in the Daund firing case. “Instead of finding the person responsible for the firing at the art and culture centre in Pune district’s Daund tehsil, the police are trying to cover up the incident. Will the police take action or leave the person without action because of his connection with the govt? The police should take action against the person concerned,” Rohit wrote. Pune Rural superintendent of police (SP) Sandeep Singh Gill denied the cover-up allegation and told TOI, “Our enquiry in the matter was underway since Tuesday. Our team had to inspect the spot to trace the bullet marks and convince people associated with the kendra to lodge a complaint.” The ‘tamasha’ kendra’s manager lodged a complaint in this connection. A search is on for the MLA’s brother and his three aides. “We suspect they are somewhere in the Mulshi taluka,” the SP said.Gill cited the complaint and said, “The MLA’s brother and three others visited the kendra around 7.30pm. After witnessing two dance performances, they attended the third by five women, which started at 10.30pm. While dancing, Balasaheb took a firearm and opened fire. We do not know the reason behind the firing. The kendra officials said there was no fight or argument, and Balasaheb fired a bullet in the air while dancing. We do not know the make of the firearm as of now. All details of the firearm and the reason behind the firing will be clear once we detain and question them. Identities of Balasaheb and two others have been established, while that of another is not yet known.”
