Bhopal: BJP MP from Bhopal and Hindutva hardliner Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has accused a BJP sitting MLA in the state of running an illegal liquor shop in a village.
The MP, who has not been given a ticket for the 2024 general elections, has said Sehore MLA Sudesh Rai ran the “illegal” shop in Khajuriya village.
Speaking to PTI, the terror-accused leader said she was ashamed that the illegal liquor shop busted in Khajuriya Kalan bungalow was owned by BJP MLA Sudesh Rai, adding that this was conveyed to her by police and locals. “A video of it (the bust) has also been made,” she said.
The MP also demanded stern action and suspension of excise officials, who she said were working hand-in-glove with Rai.
“I have told the collector to suspend the officials…. The government employees who gave protection for these illegal activities, I will also get them suspended,” she said.
Thakur said she had “scolded” the concerned superintendent of police for “misleading” her, adding that the locals were extremely unhappy there.
“An elderly man said it was Sudesh Rai’s shop, who is an MLA of the BJP. The BJP is our party and we are proud of it. But if we have an MLA like this, then I will ask the party’s top leadership to remove him from his position,” Thakur fumed.
Speaking to The Print, Superintendent of Police (Sehore) Mayank Awasthi said, “We received a call from the honourable MP and necessary action has been taken by the district authorities. A previous complaint was also made by her against the same shop… Action was initiated and she was apprised of it.”
Senior officials said to ThePrint locals complained to the MP first on 8 January, 2023, when she was on a visit to the Khajuriya village. They told her that liquor was sold from the house.
After a video of the matter began doing rounds on social media, District Collector Praveen Singh sent a team and booked villager Mahesh Gour, in whose home liquor bottles were found, under Section 34 (1) of the Excise Act (penalty for unlawful manufacture, transport, possession, sale etc).
Thakur was in Khajuriya again Monday afternoon for a programme when local women told her of the recurring problem. She then visited the house and found liquor bottles.
Collector Praveen Singh told ThePrint that he was issuing a show cause notice to the district excise officer as there had been a previous case. “They should have been more vigilant,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sehore excise officer Sharda Talojiya told ThePrint that the matter was under further investigation.
MLA Sudesh Rai said the excise department would be able “to shed light” on whose liquor shop it was. “I have nothing to say on the matter. As far as Pragya Singh Thakur is concerned, I just want to say that she is a sadhvi… Bhagwan unkha bhala kare,” he told ThePrint.
The sadhvi’s statement came two days after she was dropped from the BJP’s first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The party has fielded former mayor Alok Sharma from her constituency.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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