Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant on Wednesday alleged that Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar threatened a municipal election candidate and her family in Mumbai’s Colaba area. The allegations were made after Ward No. 226 candidate Tejal Pawar and her husband Deepak Pawar held a press conference at Shiv Sena Bhavan, detailing what they described as sustained pressure to withdraw from the poll.
Tejal Pawar Alleges Pressure, Monetary Offers
Addressing the media, Tejal Pawar said she filed her nomination on December 30. She alleged that soon after, Rahul Narwekar took her husband Deepak Pawar to his office in his car.
“From there, he asked me to withdraw over the phone,” Tejal Pawar said. She further alleged that when her husband returned home, Narwekar’s personal assistant (PA) accompanied him and offered her money.
“Initially, the offer was in lakhs, later it went up to crores,” she claimed. According to her, Narwekar’s PA visited their home again the following day, but she refused to open the door.
Husband Alleges Threats And Intimidation
Deepak Pawar also levelled serious allegations against the Speaker. He said Narwekar questioned him about why his wife was contesting the elections and claimed that repeated calls were made by the Speaker’s PA.
“On the last day, Rahul Narwekar’s PA forcibly took me to his office. He threatened me, saying that if he spoke sweetly, I wouldn’t understand,” Deepak Pawar alleged.
He claimed that once inside the Speaker’s office, he was put under intense pressure to persuade his wife to withdraw her candidature.
“Rahul Narwekar told me, ‘Do you know what position I hold?’ He said even the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister come when he calls them,” Pawar said.
‘Decide Whether You Want To Stay In Colaba’
Deepak Pawar further alleged that Narvekar warned him to decide “whether you want to stay in Colaba or not”. He also referred to an activist named Raju, claiming that multiple cases were registered against him after it was announced he would contest elections.
“I got scared when his name was mentioned,” Pawar said. He added that after returning home with Narwekar’s PA, the couple became fearful.
“We switched off our phones and left the house. Everyone was searching for us. Even my party did not support me. After that, I came to Shiv Sena Bhavan,” he said.
Sawant Seeks Accountability
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant backed the couple’s allegations, accusing the Assembly Speaker of misuse of power and intimidation. He demanded accountability and raised concerns over the alleged targeting of candidates during civic elections.
Rahul Narwekar has not responded publicly to the allegations so far.
