“This is dirty politics and in the process the real issue of security and honour of women in general would get sidelined,” a spokesperson of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) Sanjay Nirupam said on Friday. “This has been done with a view to gain some cheap political benefits. It will send out a wrong signal to women who feel insecure in this city.”

He said that while the accused persons had every right to plead their case in every forum and meet politicians including ministers, it was wrong on the part of a leader (Raj Thackeray) to seek Patil’s appointment and turn up with the molestation accused in tow.

“It might lead to apprehensions of political pressure in such cases,” Nirupam said.

“Our party believes in protecting the honour and selfrespect of women and we want the culprits to be severely punished.”

He said that the accused in the molestation case may be innocent, but it was wrong to take them to meet Patil when the case was in litigation. He, however, said that it was Patil’s discretion whether to meet the accused.

Nirupam raised concern over the rising crimes against women and said it was a big challenge in front of the country. He said that politicians should not intervene in such cases and allow law to take its own course.