A bench comprising Justices Dr. Neela Gokhale and Ashwin Bhobe was hearing Bhosale’s petition, in which he alleged that the proceedings were politically motivated, aiming to keep him away from the forthcoming local body elections. Bhosale, a practising lawyer and former Corporator, contended that the externment action stemmed from political reasons.
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court temporarily suspended a notice issued to Shiv Sena (UBT) Pimpri Chinchwad city president Sachin Bhosale in an ongoing externment proceeding and directed the authorities to decide on the matter within a week.
A bench comprising Justices Dr. Neela Gokhale and Ashwin Bhobe was hearing Bhosale’s petition, in which he alleged that the proceedings were politically motivated, aiming to keep him away from the forthcoming local body elections. Bhosale, a practising lawyer and former Corporator, contended that the externment action stemmed from political reasons.
Externment proceedings typically target individuals with a criminal record who are deemed a threat to public peace, directing them to leave a specific area for a stipulated time. This case marks the second round of litigation for Bhosale, who had earlier challenged a notice dated October 21, 2024, issued just before the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Advocate Uday Warunjikar, representing Bhosale, argued that his client was given only three days to respond to the October notice, received on October 30, shortly before the November 20 elections. The High Court had extended the response time, allowing Bhosale to submit his reply.
On December 4, 2024, a second notice was issued concerning the same externment proceedings, granting seven days for a response. However, Bhosale received this notice only on December 19. His counsel pointed out the procedural irregularity, emphasizing that no decision had been made regarding the initial notice.
Additional Public Prosecutor Ashish Satpute assured the bench that the October 21 notice would be resolved by next Monday, considering Bhosale’s reply. The bench recorded that the December 4 notice would remain on hold for eight days following the resolution of the earlier notice.
Bhosale currently faces seven cases, one of which he attributes to a 2009 family dispute. He claims that the remaining cases are politically motivated, linked to his protests against the government.
