Dattatray Bharane’s Supporter Issues Death Threat To NCP-SP Worker On Camera In Indapur, Claims Supriya Sule; Urges Pune Rural Police to File Case

NCP-SP Working President and Baramati MP Supriya Sule on Monday took to X (formerly Twitter) and claimed that her party worker in Indapur was issued a death threat by a supporter of the newly appointed Maharashtra Agriculture Minister, Dattatray Bharane. She has urged the Pune Rural Police to register an FIR in connection with this matter.

Sule wrote, "Hanumantrao Kokate, a supporter of Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane, threatened to kill Maharudra Patil, NCP-SP's Indapur Taluka Working President. Patil is a responsible office bearer who has been actively involved in politics and social work for many years. A case needs to be registered against Kokate, who dared to threaten him 'on camera'. No responsible political leader would dare to make a public threat without the support of the government. I request the Superintendent of Police, Pune Rural, to please take serious note of this incident and register a case against Kokate."

Meanwhile, in a recent reshuffle in the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led Cabinet, Bharane, who was the Sports Minister, was appointed the Agriculture Minister, whereas Manikrao Kokate, who was the Agriculture Minister, was made the Sports Minister.

Both Bharane and Kokate are MLAs of the Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party. Bharane is a legislator from Pune's Indapur, whereas Kokate is from Nashik's Sinnar.

This came after Kokate found himself in hot water after a video of him allegedly playing an online rummy game on his mobile phone while sitting in the legislative council during the monsoon session was shared on social media by NCP (SP) leaders Rohit Pawar and Jitendra Awhad. He had also courted controversy for allegedly equating farmers with beggars a few months ago.