Maharashtra Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation and Congress leader Vijay Vadettiwar's passport has been confiscated. The action was taken after it was revealed that Vadettiwar had hidden the details of the case against him in his passport application.
Mitesh Bhangadiya had filed a petition in the Nagpur Bench of the Mumbai High Court alleging that Vadettwar had concealed the details of the offenses in his passport application. According to the court order, Vadettiwar was summoned by the Nagpur Passport Office after scrutinizing the documents. The minister's passport has now been confiscated. The Passport Nagpur office is now investigating the matter.
Mitesh Bhangadia, who filed the petition against Vijay Vadettiwar, is a former member of the Legislative Council. Congress leader Vadettivar, who had twice applied for a passport in Nagpur, did not disclose the pending cases against him. Despite informing the police and the Chief Minister's Office, no action was taken. That is why I had to run to court, says Bhangadia.
A notice was issued to Minister Vijay Vadettiwar after the petition was heard in the High Court. Justice A. S. Chandurkar and Justice. Amit Borkar's bench had issued the notice and sought a reply within four weeks. Vadettiwar had given the address of the MLA's residence, Manora, for the passport and a no-objection certificate from the local police station. The NOC had said that no case had been registered against Vadettiwar. Bangadia has gone to court objecting to that.
Vijay Vadettiwar, while reacting to the news, has denied all the allegations. He asserted that his confession had been obtained through torture. "I have not been charged with any serious offense and the four charges against me are minor political offenses," he claimed.