Congress suspends two RMC Councillors who are facing arrest

Rajkot

Two Councillors of Rajkot Municipal Corporation were suspended today by opposition Congress party for corruption.

Councillors Keyur Masrani and Pritiben Desai had demanded Rs. 21 lakh protection money from a person to allow construction of his building. Pritiben had taken Rs. 3 lakh as first installment.

Bharatbhai Ishwarlal Parkeh who owns showroom of jewellery in Soni Bajar, in his police complaint stated that he started construction of building on undisputed plot of his family last year. In December when he was in his shop, Congress Councillor Pritiben’s husband Raju Desai arrived and asked to come and meet her wife who is Councillor at her home. When Bharatbhai went to Rajubhai’s house, Pritiben was present there. Husband wife told Bharatbhai that construction of building in their ward will be possible only of Rs. 10 lakh amount is paid to them. After some bargaining Rs. 6 lakh amount was finalized. As per the talk, Rs.3 lakh were to be paid before construction, and Rs. 3 lakh after construction. Councillor Pritiben and her husband received an installment of Rs. 3 lakh on same day in evening.

But the matter didn’t end here.

After one and half month, two persons came to Bharatbhai’s office and asked him to come and meet another Congress Councillor Keyur Masrani at his office. When Bharatbhai visited Masrani’s office in the evening, Keyur Masrani demanded Rs. 11 lakh to allow building construction. After some bargaining, Masrani agreed to receive Rs. 8 lakh. Bharatbhai told Masrani that he had to visit Ahmedabad and Mumbai to attend wedding and he will meet him to pay money after coming back to Rajkot.

On 28th February, Masrani came to Bharatbhai’s office with Ronak Rajani and said that promised money should be paid in four days. They said this is the last warning, and later they shall hit the target.

Fed up by threats issued by two Congress Councillors, Bharatbhai filed police complaint against both. Both Councillors are untraced after complaint.

Police complaint filed in A division police station involves section 384, 506(2) and 34. It should be noted that Bharatbhai Parekh was construction building on his own plot which is under no dispute. He was constructing a building after all plans approved by RMC.

To save party’s prestige, Congress party has suspended both Councillors ahead of their arrest.

Another Councillor in headlines

When it comes to Rajkot, BJP too is facing similar problem. Narendra Solanki, former Chairman of Standing Committee of Rajkot Municipal Corporation has emerged as main accused in attack case. Police investigation reveals that Solanki who left politics to become saint and opened Aapa Giga ashram in Chotila on Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway asked some persons to attack one Mr. Rathod in Rajkot for posting derogatory remarks on Facebook on him. Accordingly, Solanki’s men attacked Rathod so badly that he is unable to speak and bed-ridden in hospital at present. Rathod’s wife Damyantiben is BJP Councillor. After Solanki’s men made confession before police and gave statement on Solanki’s involvement, his arrest was certain. To save himself from arrest, Solanki started dharna accusing that police men were corrupt and he was being framed in this case. BJP sought resignation of Solanki, which Solanki has submitted. He is untraced after two days of dharna and media event.

It should be mentioned that two BJP Councillors had attracted complains(but not police complaint) regarding extortion in past. They were Suresh Raiyani and Babu Udhrejia. CDs containing their phone call recordings were also in circulation at that time. Babu Udhrejia was however rewarded with good position by party later on. Similarly Anil Rathod is facing more than one complaint. He was allegedly involved in attack on BJP’s woman Councillor too but they never faced any action. Recently Narendra Solanki is in news for planning attack on husband of BJP woman Councillor. Though party has sought his resignation, he has not been expelled from party.