'Dance bar' in Mumbai has permit in name of Yogesh Kadam's mother, should resign: Parab

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab on Friday alleged a "dance bar" in Mumbai had permit in the name of the mother of Maharashtra minister Yogesh Kadam, a charge rejected as baseless by the latter.

Speaking in the legislative council, Parab sought the resignation of Kadam, who is minister of state (MoS) handling home and revenue departments, among others, citing "conflict of interest".

He also alleged Kadam diverted sand from the Jagbudi river in Ratnagiri, his home district, to a dental college linked to his family when the construction material was meant to be given to farmers.

Talking to reporters in Vidhan Bhavan premises here, Kadam, a Shiv Sena member, termed the charges made by Parab as blatant lies and added "wrong proofs" have been presented by him.

Speaking in the council during the opposition-sponsored 'Last Week Motion', Parab said on May 30, police raided 'Saavali' bar in Mumbai's Kandivali area.

Dance bars are banned in Maharashtra.

Police apprehended 22 bar dancers, 22 customers and four staff members during the raid at the establishment, the opposition MLC, a former state minister, said.

"The permit (of the establishment) was in the name of the mother of MoS Home (Kadam). This is a clear conflict of interest. Can a serving minister do business related to his department?" Parab asked.

Rules clearly state that if a contractor misuses a bar licence (after being allowed to run it), the establishment owner is generally held responsible as they are ultimately accountable for operations of the facility and compliance with norms, he maintained.

"The chief minister should seek his resignation today," Parab demanded.

The dental college, where Kadam allegedly diverted sand from the Jagbudi river, is named after the minister's sister and he was also a director of the educational institute, claimed the Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator.

An angry Kadam refuted all the allegations made by Parab as baseless.

"All the allegations were baseless and aimed at defaming me. Name of my mother has been unnecessarily involved in the allegations. So at an appropriate time I will prove that all allegations were false and all proofs were fake," asserted the Shiv Sena minister.