Pune: Disabled Candidate Attempts to Set Fire to Election Official’s Vehicle in Chinchwad

Chinchwad, 4th November 2024: A disabled man, along with an accomplice, attempted to set fire to the vehicle of the Election Returning Officer for the Chinchwad Assembly constituency. The incident occurred in the premises of the ‘C’ Zonal Office of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).

Independent blind candidate Vinayak Sopan Oval and his companion, Nagesh Gulabrao Kale, poured petrol on the vehicle in an attempt to ignite it. Four people have been detained in connection with the incident so far.

The vehicle, belonging to Chinchwad Election Returning Officer Arun Pawar, was parked within the premises when the two men attempted the arson around 4:30 p.m. on Monday. The fire was swiftly extinguished, preventing major damage. Both Oval and Kale were detained by the police, and investigations revealed that their actions were driven by various unmet demands rather than any election-related grievances.

The police confirmed that the incident was unrelated to the ongoing election process, despite Oval being an independent candidate in the constituency. According to the police, both Oval and Kale, who are disabled, were frustrated over personal and welfare-related issues.

Among their demands are:
– The running of a canteen at Thergaon Hospital
– Permission for Ranka Jewelers to operate Rasvantigriha at Empire Estate
– A house under the Ramai Awas Yojana
– Employment for Oval’s wife
– A house for Kale under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, which is still pending

The authorities are conducting further investigations into the incident, and the detained individuals are expected to face charges for attempted arson and vandalism.