Akola: A woman in Maharashtra's Akola district publicly thrashed Dr Gajanan Pardhi, the former state president of the Sambhaji Brigade, accusing him of blackmail, harassment and threatening to leak private photos and videos. The incident, which took place in Murtizapur taluka on Wednesday, quickly went viral after a video surfaced showing the woman hitting Pardhi with a slipper (chappal) in broad daylight.
According to initial reports, the woman alleged that Pardhi had been blackmailing her for money, harassing her and threatening to make her private photos and videos public. Despite the seriousness of the accusations, no formal police complaint has been lodged as of yet.
Reacting swiftly to the controversy, the Sambhaji Brigade permanently expelled Pardhi from the party, NDTV reported. In an official statement, the party said he was removed on the grounds of “indiscipline, misconduct, and tarnishing the organisation’s image.” Pardhi had already been removed from his post earlier, but this latest scandal prompted his full expulsion. The party stated it is taking the matter seriously to protect its credibility and social standing.
The viral video has triggered strong reactions on social media, with many calling for legal action against Pardhi. Party sources confirmed that the incident had caused major embarrassment and urged that the law should take its course if the woman chooses to file a formal complaint.
Another Sambhaji Brigade Leader Faces Attack
Meanwhile, the Sambhaji Brigade faced another major embarrassment recently in Solapur’s Akkalkot, where its current state president, Pravin Gaikwad, was assaulted by members of the Shivdharma Foundation. The incident occurred on Sunday, July 13, during a function hosted by Fattesingh Shikshan Sanstha and Sakal Maratha Samaj.
Gaikwad was allegedly attacked for referring to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj as simply 'Sambhaji,' which the Shivdharma Foundation members deemed disrespectful. Additionally, they claimed Gaikwad had insulted Swami Samarth in his speech. The confrontation escalated as black ink was smeared on Gaikwad’s face and slogans were raised against him.
Following the incident, tension prevailed in the area, prompting police intervention to restore order. No arrests have been reported in connection with the assault.
