Maharashtra’s political corridors were stirred once again on Wednesday, as activist Anjali Damania publicly demanded the resignation of the state’s junior home minister, Yogesh Kadam, in the alleged links to an illegal dance bar operating in Mumbai’s Kandivali area.
Damania claimed that she visited the Savali Bar and said she’s now preparing to take legal action against Kadam. “I went there myself. It’s not just an orchestra bar, as it’s supposed to be. There were 22 bar girls dancing and sitting with customers. The raid report also confirms the same”, she said.
Her statement adds weight to allegations earlier made by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab. Parab had claimed that the bar officially licensed as an orchestra venue was actually being run as a full-fledged dance bar, with its licence registered under the name of Kadam’s mother, Jyoti.
The Kadam family has pushed back hard, denying all the allegations and threatening to sue Parab for defamation.
“We cannot allow people with such questionable dealings to hold ministerial posts,” she said. “Maharashtra deserves better. The chief minister should ask Kadam to resign, and every minister should be required to publicly declare their business interests.”
In the coming days, Damania plans to file an official complaint and take the matter to court.
