Former Zilla Parishad president surrenders before the police

Former Zilla Parishad president and senior district Congress leader Bandopant Mallelwar, who was an accused in a case of allegedly supplying arms and ammunition to Maoists, surrendered today.
He was taken to the general hospital here for medical examination, where he was diagnosed to be suffering from high blood pressure, after which he was admitted to the hospital, Bhamragad sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Vishal Thakur, who is investigating the case said.
However, he has not been arrested, but kept under police observation, he said. "Unless doctors do not declare him fit, the police can't arrest him," he added.
Earlier, the district and sessions court as well as the High Court had rejected Mallelwar's bail plea and hence he had no other option, but to surrender.

An offence was registered against him and a few others including Porla Primary Health Centre medical officer Ravindra Karpe on June 21, for allegedly supplying arms and ammunition to Maoists, after an arms cache was found in a vehicle belonging to the health centre, near Bhamragad.
The vehicle's driver and Mallelwar's personal staff were arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code as well as the Unlawful Activities Prevention act (UAPA), while Mallelwar and Karpe allegedly absconded. However, Karpe was granted bail a few days ago.

Meanwhile, the Aheri court had issued an order asking Mallelwar to appear before it.

Narendra Mallelwar, the younger brother of Bandopant Mallelwar, has also been made an accused in this case, as some letters allegedly written by Maoists were found at his residence during a police enquiry.
The police is also investigating the owner of a city medical store, from where medicines purchased, were found in the vehicle.