TV Footages Land Maha Home Minister in New Controversy

Mumbai, Sep 29 (PTI): Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil has landed in a controversy with some news channels airing footage of him meeting individuals with alleged underworld links and criminal background. 

The footage, the channels claimed, was from an Eid function organised early this month by Maharashtra Minorities Commission chairman Naseem Siddiqui who belongs to the NCP.

Asked about it, Patil today said he was not aware of all those who were present at the function.

"I was invited by the Minorities Commission Chairman. There were a lot of people. Journalists and cameramen were accompanying me. Do you think a politician will meet people with criminal records when the media was accompanying him," he asked.

About the presence of Salim Patel and Mobin Qureshi, who have alleged criminal links, at the event, Siddiqui said he did not know the former, while the latter was an office- bearer of the NCP's Minority Cell for the last ten years.

"No complaint had been received against him (Qureshi). If there is a charge that he has a criminal background, then inquiry should be conducted and action should be taken," he said.

Siddiqui claimed that he did not knew who had invited Patel to the event. He described the entire episode as a conspiracy to defame him.

"The pictures were shot on mobile or a hidden camera. They have not been taken by journalists. I have demanded a high-level inquiry into the entire episode."