Mumbai
A 30-year-old man was detained for allegedly trying to slap Union Minister Ramdas Athawale at a public event in Maharashtra’s Thane district on Saturday night, the police said. The Republican Party of India chief was in Ambernath to address a rally.

As the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment got off the dais after delivering a speech at around 10.15 pm, accused Pravin Gosavi, on the pretext of garlanding him, allegedly tried to slap him. He was overpowered by people, thrashed and handed him over to the police.

“We have registered a case under Sections 353 and 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) of the IPC.

While a probe is underway to ascertain why Gosavi had tried to attack the minister, a senior police officer said it could have been out of frustration for having been expelled from the RPI.

“Gosavi’s membership was terminated a year ago for criminal activities as he was ‘blackmailing’ people through the RTI ,” PP Shewale, DCP, Thane police, said.