PONDA: A heated dispute over the video recording of a gram sabha proceeding led to clashes and tension in Shiroda. The incident occurred when panchayat member Meghasham Shirodkar, husband of the Sarpanch Mugdha Shirodkar and brother of local MLA Subhash Shirodkar, prevented a villager named Vipul Naik from filming the gram sabha, stating that he did not obtain permission to do so. Tensions escalated when another villager, Deepinti Shirodkar, attempted video recording, resulting in a verbal and physical clash between villagers and panchayat members.
There is growing contention over villagers recording gram sabha proceedings, with many panchayats in Ponda expressing concerns about being defamed on social media platforms.
The Sarpanch had just begun welcoming the attendees, when Meghasham halted gram sabha member Vipul’s recording, and did the same when Deepinti tried recording, leading to a clash. Both villagers and the panchayat body filed complaints against each other, alleging threats, abuses, and physical altercations.
The police accepted both complaints and registered offences accordingly. Based on Deepinti’s complaint, offences were filed against Meghasham and Suhas Naik for allegedly twisting her hand, outraging her modesty, and issuing threats. The case is registered under Sections 323, 354, 509, 506(ii) r/w 34 IPC.
In response, a counter-complaint was filed by Sarpanch Mugdha Shirodkar against Deepinti and four villagers, namely Sonali Naik, Shailesh Naik, Vipul Naik, and Dhanraj Naik.
According to the complaint, the accused formed an unlawful assembly, damaged the sound system causing a loss of Rs 25,000, and threw a water bottle at the panchayat members on the dais. The case is registered under Sections 143, 353, 427, 506(ii) r/w 149 IPC.
