Pune: Income Tax Department has conducted a raid at the residence of Abhijit Katke, the brother-in-law of BJP leader Amol Balwadkar. Katke, who holds the prestigious titles of Maharashtra Kesari and Hind Kesari, had his house in Katkewadi, Wagholi raided by IT officials.
The raid began early in the morning, at around 5 a.m., and also extended to the homes and offices of 15 land developers in the Wagholi area. The investigation is still ongoing, but no official details have been released about the specific reason behind the action.
This raid has drawn attention as it comes shortly after Amol Balwadkar, a former Kothrud Municipal Corporator, revolted against Maharashtra’s Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil.
Balwadkar, who had expressed his desire to contest the upcoming assembly elections from Kothrud, accused Patil of stifling democracy within the BJP.
However, Patil was again selected as the BJP candidate from Kothrud in the party’s first candidate list, leading to speculation about the timing of the raid on Katke’s residence.
Raids in Wagholi and Surrounding Areas
According to reports, the raid not only targeted Abhijit Katke’s residence but also the home of his father, veteran wrestler Chandrakant Katke.
Additionally, the Income Tax Department has reportedly raided the offices and homes of several land developers in the Wagholi region. The nature of these investigations is yet to be clarified, and further information is awaited as the search continues.
Who is Abhijit Katke?
Abhijit Katke is a prominent wrestler from Pune, known for his achievements in the sport. He has won the prestigious Maharashtra Kesari title once and was the runner-up for the title twice. He is also a Hind Kesari champion.
Katke hails from the renowned Shivramdada Talim wrestling gym in Ganesh Peth, Pune, where he trained under the guidance of Amar Nimbalkar, Bharat Mhaske, and Hanmant Gaikwad.
In 2015, he won the Yuva Maharashtra Kesari title, and in 2016, he secured a bronze medal at the Junior National Wrestling Championship. Katke, despite being in his twenties, is regarded as a mature and skilled wrestler.
Political Speculations
The timing of the raid has sparked speculation, particularly given the recent internal tensions within the BJP. Amol Balwadkar’s rebellion against Chandrakant Patil has made waves in political circles, and the raid on his brother-in-law’s residence has added fuel to the fire.
