Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Rathod resigned from the Maharashtra cabinet over his alleged involvement in the death case of 22-year-old girl Pooja Chavan on Sunday. After Chavan's death, Fadnavis had shot off a letter to DGP Hemant Nagrale along with 12 audio clips vis-a-vis the incident, demanding an investigation.
Though Thackeray had assured a probe, Rathod continued as a minister and staged a massive show of strength at the Poharadevi temple in Washim district last week.
Meanwhile Pooja Chavan's relative Shanta Rathod has made a very serious and shocking revelation. "Sanjay Rathod gave Rs 5 crore to Pooja Chavan's parents. That is why they are silent, alleged Shanta Rathod. I have been raising my voice from day one to get justice for Pooja. Pooja's parents went to meet the Chief Minister yesterday. Her parents for the greed of money did not value their pwn daughter. Society has been misled. Now Pooja's parents are misleading the Chief Minister. Her parents are lying, 'claimed Shanta. Shanta also requested CM Thackeray to give justive to Pooja.
Pooja Chavan hailed from the Banjara community and was a native of Parli-Vaijanath in Beed district. Her family wrote to the CM decrying the moves to politicise her death, and killing her multiple times after she died. They also dismissed the moves to link the minister with her and said they had never sought Rathod's resignation, but had full faith in the ongoing police probe.
Chavan died after falling from the balcony of an apartment in Pune's Hadapsar area. The police have registered an accidental death report (ADR) and are probing the matter.