Lodha had recently at an election rally in Mumbadevi constituency, which has a sizeable Muslim population, hinted that the explosives used for blasts in the early nineties in Mumbai were "manufactured in the lanes within 5 km." He apparently referred to the Dongri and Nagpada areas, inhabited mostly by minorities, while referring to "lanes", reported news agency IANS.
His comments were apparently targeted at Congress candidate and sitting MLA Amin Patel.
Taking cognizance of his controversial remarks, the Election Commission sought an explanation from him. According to a report, an EC team present at the meeting had recorded his speech.
Mumbai goes to the polls on October 21. Counting of votes will take place three days later.
5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BJP MLA MANGAL PRABHAT LODHA
- 62-year-old Mangal Prabhat Lodha has been ranked as the richest builder in India.
- Mangal Prabhat Lodha is the son of Guman Mal Lodha, a former Gauhati High Court chief justice and a former BJP MP
- Lodha is seeking a sixth consecutive term from the posh Malabar Hill Assembly seat in south Mumbai has declared assets worth over Rs 441 crore in his poll affidavit.
- As per the affidavit, Lodha has five pending criminal cases against him.
- Mangal Prabhat Lodha has partnered Donald Trump in the latter's real estate business in Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai and Pune.