Pune: Following his controversial comments about Jayashree Thorat, daughter of prominent Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, Vasantrao Deshmukh was taken into custody in Pune.
This arrest comes in response to increasing tensions and incidents of arson in Sangamner, which erupted after the statements were made at a recent youth gathering.
The contentious remarks were made during a youth meeting held by former BJP MP Sujay Vikhe Patil in Dhandarphal village, Sangamner Taluka.
Soon after, Sangamner saw a series of arson incidents, leading to heightened tensions across the community. Deshmukh’s statements received widespread criticism, sparking protests led by Jayashree Thorat and other local leaders to demand police intervention and action against him.
The case was registered at the Sangamner police station, and in response to the mounting unrest, a team from the Local Crime Branch in Pune, led by Chief Dinesh Aher, moved to arrest Deshmukh today, October 27.
His detention follows days of public outcry over the remarks, which many have deemed as both offensive and provocative.
This arrest marks a significant step in addressing the ongoing tension in Sangamner, though the community continues to call for further measures to ensure justice and restore peace.
BJP State President Chandrashekhar Bawankule has condemned the statements made by Vasantrao Deshmukh and assured that the party will take strict disciplinary action against the leader.
Bawankule also clarified that the Vikhe-Patil family has not endorsed Deshmukh's views or statements and that political workers or leaders should not try to exploit this incident to incite sentiments against Vikhe-Patil.
