A dispute over Right to Information applications escalated into competing complaints involving Maval MLA Sunil Shelke and RTI activist Sunil Raghunath Gujar after an alleged confrontation at the Pune collectorate on Friday. The dispute is linked to queries about mining royalties, stone-crushing operations and land associated with the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation in Maval taluka.
Gujar, a resident of Pimploli in Maval, alleged that Shelke and his supporters verbally abused and assaulted him inside a room at the collectorate at around 3 pm. He also alleged that his bag was checked during the incident. Police said Gujar submitted a written complaint alleging assault.
Shelke subsequently filed a counter-complaint seeking an inquiry into Gujar’s activities. The MLA alleged that the activist was sharing information about him with political opponents and raised concerns about the manner in which information was being sought through RTI applications.
According to the report, Shelke suspects that Gujar was attempting to obtain his personal, sensitive and business-related information through applications filed in other people’s names. He also alleged that Gujar had been seen near his office and at public events in recent days. These claims form part of Shelke’s complaint and have not been established as facts in the supplied report.
The underlying dispute concerns Gujar’s efforts to obtain official records relating to alleged irregularities in mining royalties, stone-crushing operations and land connected with the MIDC in Maval. Gujar and his associates have alleged that illegal mines and stone crushers continue to operate in the region and that irregularities in royalty payments may have caused revenue losses to the state.
They have also questioned what they describe as a lack of administrative action against such operations. The group has alleged that political pressure may be affecting enforcement, but the supplied report does not cite an official finding confirming those allegations.
The competing complaints bring together two distinct questions for the authorities. The first concerns the alleged confrontation at a government office and whether any offence occurred. The second concerns the limits and use of RTI applications when requests involve the personal or business-related information of public figures, as well as the administration’s handling of records concerning mining activity, royalty collection and industrial land.
No conclusion on the assault allegations, the alleged information-gathering activity or the claims of illegal mining and royalty losses was reported in the supplied account. The complaints are expected to be examined by the police and relevant authorities as part of the inquiry sought by the parties.
