Pune: The political landscape in Beed is once again heating up — this time over the alleged sexual harassment of a NEET aspirant (17) by two teachers of a tuition centre.Though the Beed city police have arrested the two teachers after a case under Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) was registered against them, former minister and NCP politician Dhananjay Munde has accused local NCP (SP) MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar of trying to shield the duo. Munde wants chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to form an SIT for a “detailed probe” into the case.Munde, who was under fire after his close associate, Valmik Karad, was arrested in connection with the Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case, said: “Those who were holding rallies then and demanding my resignation from the cabinet are all silent on the alleged sexual harassment of the girl. This shows their double standard.” Along with Beed MP Bajarang Sonawane and BJP MLA Suresh Dhas, Kshirsagar had participated in various rallies after Deshmukh’s murder, demanding Munde’s resignation.On the first day of monsoon session in the Assembly, Munde held a meeting with CM Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Ajit Pawar on the sexual harassment case in Beed. “According to my information, Kshirsagar was accompanying the two accused after the case was registered with police. His connection with the accused should be thoroughly probed. I have requested the CM to form a special investigation team (SIT) and scrutinise call records of Kshirsagar to find out the link between him and the two accused.“TOI tried to contact Kshirsagar for his comment on the issue, but phone calls to him remained unanswered.When contacted, NCP (SP) MP Sonawane said Munde was making baseless allegations. “Munde belongs to a party that is a partner in the alliance running the state govt. Instead of making baseless allegations, he should provide evidence of Kshirsagar’s involvement, if any, in the alleged sexual harassment case,” he said. “We are not politicising the issue. In fact, we demand justice for the girl and her family. It is Munde who is politicising the issues as he has spoken after a gap of 150 days, only to make some baseless allegations,” Sonawane said.Munde, who resigned and subsequently avoided media interactions, became vocal against Kshirsagar following the sexual harassment case in Beed city.
