Maharashtra special court sentences BJP MLA Tamil Selvan to 6 months in 2017 BMC protest case

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A special court handling cases involving Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) has pronounced a verdict, convicting Maharashtra BJP MLA Tamil Selvan in a case dating back to 2017. The court's decision has resulted in a six-month sentence for Tamil Selvan and others involved in the incident, along with a directive to pay a fine of Rs 13,500.

The case stems from Tamil Selvan's participation in a protest against Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) employees and officers who arrived at Mumbai's Sion Koliwada area in 2017 to disconnect water and electrical supply to specific buildings. The situation escalated as local residents and protesters engaged in a scuffle and resorted to stone pelting directed at the BMC team during the incident.

Also read: Maharashtra BJP MLA resigns in support of Maratha quota demand

"A special court presiding over the matters related to MPs and MLAs has convicted Maharashtra BJP MLA Tamil Selvan in a 2017 case. The court has given 6 months of punishment to Tamil Selvan and others in this matter and also directed the accused to pay a fine of Rs 13,500," ANI reported.

Meanwhile, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Beed district in central Maharashtra on Monday tendered his resignation from the legislative assembly in support of the Maratha reservation demand. Laxman Pawar, the MLA from Gevrai assembly segment, said the Maratha quota issue is pending for years.

'The Maratha quota issue is pending for many years. I extend my support to the demand of the Maratha community. To support the cause, I am tendering my resignation,' Pawar said in a letter sent to legislative assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar.

The BJP is part of the state's Shiv Sena-led ruling coalition where the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) is also a constituent. Laxman Pawar's decision comes in the wake of the Shiv Sena MPs from Nashik and Hingoli in Maharashtra, both loyalists of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, quitting in support of the Maratha reservation demand.

Maratha community members, led by activist Manoj Jarange, have launched a fresh round of agitation to press for a quota in government jobs and educational institutions. Jarange is on an indefinite fast at a village in Jalna district since October 25. On Monday, Beed district saw large-scale violence during the Maratha quota agitation. (With inputs from ANI and PTI)