Marathi actress Ketaki Chitale has been detained by Thane Police for a ‘derogatory’ Facebook post on Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar.
Ketaki Chitale has shared a poem written by a person named Advocate Nitin Bhave on her Facebook post. The post in Marathi doesn’t mention NCP's chief's full name but mentions the surname Mr. Pawar and the age of 80. The post refers to Pawar as “cunning" and accuses the former Maharashtra Chief Minister of having committed sins.
A case was registered against Ketaki at the Kalwa police station under sections 153 O and 505. According to the complaint lodged at the Kalwa police station, Ketki Chitale’s defamatory post against Sharad Pawar has created an emotional and intense resentment among the party leaders.
“The offence against Chitale was registered at Kalwa police station in Thane on Saturday based on a complaint lodged by Swapnil Netke, who alleged that the actress posted objectionable content against Pawar, and her post might strain the relationship between the two political parties in the state further and create trouble," PTI quoted a police official as saying.
Reacting to the post, Maharashtra Housing Development Minister Jitendra Awhad told PTI that the youths attached to the NCP will register offences in "at least 100-200" police stations in Maharashtra in connection with the post.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray also condemned the objectionable Facebook post shared by the actress saying "such writing" does not have place in culture of Maharashtra.
NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto also tweeted about it and wrote, " Actress #KetakiChitale has learnt from #BJP leaders of #Maharashtra that the best way to gain cheap and free publicity is to make derogatory statements on Sharad Pawar Saheb. They all have tried and failed, this lady will experience the same. Hope God grants her some sensibility."
Maharashtra State Women's Commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar also demanded strict action against the actress.
(With inputs from Jitendra Dixit)