TikTok star’s death: BJP demands Sena minister’s scalp, CM assures probe

Mumbai/Pune, Feb 13 : Mounting pressure on Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, senior BJP leaders on Saturday demanded the arrest of state cabinet minister Sanjay Rathod, whose name has cropped up vis-a-vis the death of 22-year-old TikTok star Pooja Chavan.
BJP leaders Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Kirit Somaiya and others have pointed fingers at state Forest Minister Sanjay Rathod, a four-time Shiv Sena MLA from Yavatmal, and a prominent leader of the Banjara community.
When questioned by mediapersons, Thackeray guardedly said that a probe is underway into the matter and the truth will emerge after the investigation is complete.
While Vikhe-Patil wanted to know what is the CM waiting for, Somaiya said Rathod should not only be sacked from the cabinet, but also be arrested immediately.
While Thackeray is understood to have sought a report from Pune Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta, Rathod remained incommunicado during the day, fuelling speculation on his fate.
On Friday, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis had shot off a letter to the Director-General of Police, Hemant Nagrale, for a probe into the matter besides submitting 14 purported audio-clips that may be linked to Chavan’s death.