BANGALORE, February 6: ``He is one of the most notorious goondas of Solapur City.'' Thus a police official described the Janata Dal nominee for the Bijapur Lok Sabha seat.Ravikant Shankreppa Patil is facing trial in a number of criminal cases in Maharashtra. Ravi Patil, as he is called, is a sitting MLA from Indi constituency. At the time of taking oath as an MLA in Dec 94, he was facing trail in 21 criminal cases. Though, he was charge-sheeted in 35 cases for extortion, attempt to murder, profiteering, he has been acquitted in eight cases.
Solapur police had detained him under the National Security Act (NSA) from Dec 10, 1991 to April 2, 1992. He was a corporator of Solapur Municipal Corporation when he was detained under the NSA.
Police officers say that Ravi Patil was a resident of Solapur before he contested Assembly elections and was externed for two years from Solapur city, Solapur district and the adjoining districts of Osmanabad and Pune under the Bombay Police Act, 1951 by the then DCP(zone), Solapur on Oct 20, 1993. On a appeal from him, the Bombay High Court stayed the externment orders later.
The areas of his crime were in the limits of Foujdar Chavadi, Sadar Bazar, Jail road, Salgarwasti and Akkalkot north police stations, all in Solapur district. ``Since Shri Ravi Patil is a sitting MLA of Karnataka State Legislative Assembly now, these facts are bought to your notice with a request to keep watch on his activities in Karnataka State'', wrote A K Sharma, DCP (HQ), Solapur to the then State DGP R Ramalingam.
``As per the records of Solapur Police Commissionerate, he is one of the most notorious goondas of Solapur City. He was detained under National Security Act (NSA) prior to the formation of Solapur police commissionerate in 1992 by the District Magistrate, Solapur," the letter says.
He earned a lot of money by illegal means and he has become a Don in Solapur city,' the letter adds.
The criminal activities he was involved in, according to police, included such acts likedealing in sale of disputed property after throwing out tenants. ``Though, Ravi Patil, after his election as MLA, is taking precautions that his name be kept out of crime his activities to extort money from landlords, builders and owners of motor transport companies continues." "As action against him under various sections of the law proved incapable to curb his anti-social and criminal activities, he was externed'', Sharma informs the State police.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
