MNS leader’s brother, six partymen held for vandalising Borivli film set

The police on Monday arrested MLA Pravin Darekar's brother Prakash and six other Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers for dacoity, unlawful assembly, rioting and damaging property at a film set in Borivli (East) on Sunday afternoon. The vandalism was the result of a tiff between the MLA’s driver and the compound’s garden supervisor.

“While 10 to 15 others are wanted, the arrested accused were remanded in police custody till August 1 after being produced before a metropolitan court,” said Bharat Worlikar, senior inspector of the Kasturba Marg police.

Apart from Prakash Darekar, who is a corporator, those arrested include Ravindra More, Pravin Darekar's driver, and MNS workers Pravin Kadam, Vikram Chowgale, Jaiwant Jadhav, Bharat Ghanekar and Rajesh Gawde.

"The accused, armed with iron rods and stones, vandalised 15 vehicles and a computer, leading to damages worth Rs21.5 lakh. Besides, they also picked up a camera worth Rs15,000 from one of the vehicles and robbed the complainant, Sanju Bhutki, of his wallet containing Rs4,000 and a few documents," said Worlikar.

According to the police, More was passing through the old premises of Garden Wafers company, situated near the Tata Power House in Borivli (East), on his scooter at around 12.30pm on Sunday when Bhutki, the garden supervisor and complainant, stopped him. A lane passing through the compound is frequently used as a shortcut, but Bhutki did not allow him to pass, which led to an altercation.

More then summoned other party workers, entered the company's premises where the shoot of a Rohan Sippy film was in progress and vandalised 15 parked vehicles, which include Sippy’s Prado, and actor Ayushman Khurana’s BMW.