By TwoCircles.net Staff reporter,
Yavatmal: BJP MLA Raju Todsam has been sentenced to three months imprisonment by a court here for abusing and assaulting an employee of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL).
On Friday, Third Joint Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate (First Class) of Pandharkawda court, H A Wani, also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Todsam.
Todsam is an MLA from Arni-Kelapur constituency who has won for the first time in last year assembly polls.
The case date backs to December 17, 2013 when Todsam along with his associates had barged into the MSEDCL office in Pandharkawda and alleged that they had been issued inflated bill, abused its employees and even held Assistant Accountant Vilas Aakate by the collar of his shirt and threatened him of dire consequences. He was taluka president of BJP for Pandharkawda at that time.
After the incidence, Aakate filed a police complaint and case was registered under sections 294 (obscene acts and songs), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC against Todsam against him.
Consequently, statements of 10 witnesses were recorded in the case, and after hearing the counsel, the court found Todsam guilty.
Todsam was sentenced to three months imprisonment under section 294 of IPC. Under section 353, he was further sentenced to three months imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50. He would have to undergo an additional 10-day imprisonment if he does not pay the fine. Both the sentences would run concurrently.
Todsam might challenge the verdict in higher court after consultation with his lawyers.
There are still four more criminal cases pending against Todsam under various sections related to: Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc. (IPC Section-436); criminal intimidation (IPC Section-506); theft (IPC Section-379); Mischief by destroying or moving, etc., a land- mark fixed by public authority Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage to amount of one hundred or (in case of agricultural produce) ten rupees (IPC Section-435); wrongful restraint (IPC Section-341); Rash driving or riding on a public way (IPC Section-279); Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others (IPC Section-337); rioting (IPC Section-147); member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object (IPC Section-149).