Political Scandal Erupts in Maharashtra: MNS Leader's Son Arrested for Abusing Influencer
Controversy Unfolds in Mumbai
Mumbai: A new political scandal has emerged in Maharashtra involving Raheel Sheikh, the son of Javed Sheikh, the Vice-President of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). He was filmed allegedly verbally assaulting social media influencer Rajshree More after colliding with her vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and flaunting his political ties. An FIR has been lodged at Amboli Police Station against Raheel Sheikh for both outraging a woman's modesty and negligent driving, leading to his arrest.
The footage, which went viral after being shared by More on her Instagram, has sparked significant public outrage and calls for a comprehensive investigation.
In the video, Raheel Sheikh appears shirtless and intoxicated, hurling insults and threats at Rajshree More, a Marathi influencer, while boasting about his father's political stature.
The incident occurred in Mumbai and was recorded by More herself. Following the video's release, political leaders from various parties expressed their disapproval, resulting in Raheel Sheikh's arrest on charges of misconduct and negligent driving.
Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant commented on the situation, stating, "A police inquiry will be conducted to uncover the truth."
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal criticized the incident, labeling it a symptom of the current government's inability to curb the growing sense of entitlement among political families.
"Every day, we witness such disgraceful acts by the sons of politicians. A similar incident occurred recently in Pune. This reflects the government's failure, and we condemn it. The mindset behind these actions must be addressed with strict measures," he remarked.
Rajshree More had previously gained attention for opposing the perceived imposition of the Marathi language on non-Marathi speakers.
The backlash from MNS supporters led to the video being deleted after More issued a public apology following complaints from party members.
This incident arises amid escalating tensions surrounding language and identity politics in Maharashtra, with MNS supporters recently accused of attacking non-Marathi speakers as part of their campaign against the promotion of Hindi in the state.
In response to the broader implications of the incident, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar stated, "The Constitution does not endorse abuse, threats, or violence. These matters should be resolved through dialogue. While it is essential to respect the Marathi language in Maharashtra, these issues should never be conflated."