Awhad Removed in Midnight Protest Over Detention Near Vidhan Bhavan

Mumbai, Jul 18 (PTI) In a tense standoff early Friday morning, NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad was forcibly removed by the police during a protest opposing the detention of his supporter. The incident arose from a scuffle between supporters of Awhad and those of BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar in the Vidhan Bhavan earlier. Awhad, known for his outspoken demeanor in the legislative assembly, staged a sit-in demonstration near the rear gate of the Vidhan Bhavan at around 2 am. This protest was sparked when police attempted to detain his supporter, Nitin Deshmukh. The MLA physically obstructed a police vehicle, insisting on Deshmukh's release and accusing the police of acting with a clear bias. “This is blatant bias,” Awhad asserted. “While my supporter, who was assaulted, is being detained, Padalkar’s men, who were the aggressors, are receiving protection from the police.” He further claimed that despite an agreement with the assembly speaker to release the detained supporters after the House proceedings, Padalkar’s followers were instead treated favorably. “The police are serving Padalkar’s supporters vada pav and tobacco,” Awhad alleged. The conflict reportedly began on Thursday within the Vidhan Bhavan, involving Deshmukh and Rishikesh Takle, an aide to Padalkar. As tensions mounted outside the legislative building late at night, Awhad and his supporters endeavored to block Deshmukh's detention. In response, Padalkar labeled Awhad’s act of obstructing a police vehicle as “goondaism.” Speaking from within the Vidhan Bhavan, the BJP MLA admitted, “My supporters made a mistake. I have apologized to the assembly speaker and requested strong warnings be issued to them.” He mentioned that an FIR had been filed against his supporters and expressed his respect for the decisions of the legislative heads. When asked about his involvement in the incident, Padalkar remarked, “I don’t even know Nitin Deshmukh. On the day of the scuffle, I spent 15 minutes on the steps of Vidhan Bhavan and attended sessions in the House all day.” He acknowledged the booking of his supporters and expressed readiness to face legal proceedings. Eyewitness accounts describe how police used force to drag Awhad from the path of their vehicles, bolstering their numbers to manage the growing crowd. Adding to the drama, police tried discreetly to move Deshmukh using a different vehicle, but Awhad noticed the strategy, prompting another confrontation. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar joined the scene after midnight. The original altercation erupted in the Vidhan Bhavan’s lobby on Thursday, with violent clashes between the two groups. Videos capturing the intense brawl, where security personnel struggled to separate combatants, have circulated widely on social media. The dispute reportedly began with a verbal exchange outside the assembly building on Wednesday, escalating into a physical confrontation the following day.