Gholap, 127 others released on bail

Gholap, 127 others released on bail
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NASHIK, MARCH 13: Former Shiv Sena minister and sitting MLA from Devlali, Babanrao Gholap, was released on bail today alongwith 127 others after three days of judicial custody.

The additional sessions judge Ms S S Phansalkar-Joshi released Gholap and others on a bail of Rs 7,000 each, his lawyer M Y Kale said. The application for the bail had been filed on Monday. Gholap, alongwith 112 men and 15 women had been arrested on March 10 when they had blocked the Mumbai-Agra national highway near Gaulane to protest against the proposed compost project and garbage dump of the Nashik Municipal Corporation.

One Shiv Sainik, Dilip Kashinath Kajale, had been killed when the police had opened fire to control the mob which had started pelting stones at the police and the stranded vehicles. The agitation had left 60 persons, including 26 policemen, injured and about 20 vehicles damaged.

The protestors were opposing the civic project on the grounds that it would cause nuisance to surrounding farmers and the ancient Pandav Leni caves as well as the proposed Dadasaheb Phalke memorial and a Buddha stupa in the neighbourhood.

The NMC has decided to complete the project within three months. A petition in the high court to grant a stay the project had been rejected recently and the court had asked the civic body to go ahead with the project.