IN PICS! Pooja Chavan Suicide Case: CM Thackeray meets Sanjay Rathod for 2 minutes

The issue of Pooja Chavan's death is likely to increase the problems of Maharashtra Forest Minister and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Rathod.

Sanjay Rathod attended the State cabinet meeting on Wednesday in Mumbai.

Later in the evening intense speculation after Mr. Rathod met Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray at his official residence Varsha. He however, refused to speak with reporters on his way out.

It is being said that CM Thackeray kept Rathod waiting for over an hour and a half. After which he gave Rathod only 2 minutes.

Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Energy Minister Dr. Nitin Raut (Congress) are reported to have joined in later.

But there was no discussion on his resignation in connection with the Pune case as the Cabinet deliberated over Covid-19 pandemic, said Nawab Malik.

There is talk in political circles that the Shiv Sena party has given hints to Sanjay Rathod that action might be taken against him by Chief Minister Thackeray in the next few days.

Meanwhile, a show of strength on Tuesday by Mr. Rathod at the Poharadevi shrine in Washim district in the Vidarbha region — attended by thousands of members of the banjara community at a time when the State is reeling under a renewed COVID-19 wave — has led to a fresh bout of criticism from the Opposition and senior Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders.

While Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat said the large gathering at Pohradevi was “unfortunate”.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar too is reportedly displeased over Mr. Rathod’s actions for ‘hurting’ the image of the government