Who protected drug lord Lalit Patil in 2020, asks Devendra Fadnavis

Patil escaped from Sassoon General Hospital in Pune earlier this month. File pic

On a day the Shiv Sena (UBT) took out a march in Nashik, demanding a drug-free state and the resignations of ministers Dada Bhuse and Shambhuraj Desai, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed that a drug lord Lalit Patil, the then Nashik chief of Uddhav's party, was arrested in December 2020 but never interrogated.

Patil's arrest in a narcotics case has opened up the political field, with accusations and counter-accusations from both sides, especially Sena's rival factions. The Sena (UBT) has alleged that Bhuse and Desai had helped Patil escape from Pune's Sassoon General Hospital early this month. The ministers have denied the charge and said they are willing to face inquiries.

Lalit Patil was arrested In December 2020. File pic

Fadnavis stated that Patil was arrested in December 2020, when Thackeray was the CM. "Thackeray had made Patil the chief of the party's Nashik unit. Patil was sent to police custody remand (PCR) for 14 days but immediately shifted to Sassoon hospital. He was not interrogated. Since no application was filed before the court to seek his inquiry, he was sent to judicial custody and remained in the hospital," he told a media conference on Friday.

"Who influenced the police… the then CM Thackeray or the former home minister Anil Deshmukh? I have many things to tell, but will not reveal much today," Fadnavis added.

Anil Deshmukh, former home minister and devendra fadnavis, deputy chief minister

Meanwhile, Deshmukh countered Fadnavis questioning if the latter would tell why Patil remained in Sassoon hospital for nine months this year. "What kind of illness does he have? Who helped him escape under the police watch? Who is the home minister now?" he asked, adding that Patil had been frequently leaving the hospital to dine with his girlfriend.

In Nashik, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut made serious allegations against Bhuse. He asked Fadnavis to find out what gains the Nashik guardian minister had made in the drug business. "We know who is involved. The local MLAs have been getting R15 lakh every month in bribes," he said while addressing people during the march.

Oct 2
Day Lalit Patil escaped