A confrontation at the Pune collectorate involving Maval MLA Sunil Shelke and RTI activist Sunil Raghunath Gujar has led to complaints from both sides, with police examining allegations of assault, intimidation and the misuse of information requests.
Gujar, a resident of Pimploli in Maval taluka, alleged that Shelke and his supporters verbally abused him, checked his bag and assaulted him inside a room at the collectorate around 3pm on Friday. According to the police, Gujar submitted a written complaint describing the alleged incident. The report identified the matter as involving an FIR.
Shelke has filed a counter-complaint with the police commissioner. In it, he alleged that Gujar was supplying information about him to political rivals and sought a detailed inquiry into the activist’s activities. Shelke also expressed suspicion that Gujar was attempting to obtain his personal, sensitive and business-related information by submitting RTI applications in the names of other people.
The confrontation reportedly followed a dispute over information sought under the Right to Information Act. Gujar had been seeking details concerning alleged irregularities involving mines, stone crushers and land belonging to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation in Maval. He and his associates alleged that irregularities in mining royalties had caused significant losses to the state exchequer.
They further alleged that illegal mines and stone crushers continued to operate in Maval and that administrative officials were not acting against the alleged violations because of political pressure. These claims have not been independently established in the supplied report. The allegations connect the confrontation to wider questions over the monitoring of extractive activity, public land and revenue collection in a rapidly developing region around Pune.
Shelke’s complaint also alleged that Gujar had been seen near his office and at public events in recent days. The complaint raised concerns, according to the report, about whether RTI applications were being used to obtain personal or business-related information. The allegations from the MLA and the activist remain contested, with neither side’s account independently confirmed in the supplied report.
Police said both sides had filed complaints and that the allegations were being verified. Officers said legal action would be taken according to the findings of the inquiry. The next steps will depend on the police assessment of the complaints, the available evidence and the legal provisions found applicable to the case.
