BJP District President Booked for Alleged Abuse of Government Official in Maharashtra
A non-cognisable offence has been registered against Bharatiya Janata Party's Hingoli district president Gajanan Ghughe for allegedly abusing, humiliating, and threatening a revenue department official inside government premises in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The Kalmanuri police station filed the case on Saturday following a formal complaint from the victim, marking another instance of political figures facing legal action for misconduct toward government servants.
Incident Details and Allegations
According to police records and the official complaint, the confrontation occurred on August 13, 2025, around 1:00 PM in the meeting hall of the Kalmanuri tehsil office. The complainant, Ravikumar Gutte (36), a revenue assistant posted at the tehsil office, alleged that Ghughe used abusive and derogatory language against him in the presence of other staff members and visitors.
Gutte stated in his complaint that the BJP politician publicly insulted him and warned that he could get him removed from service. The revenue assistant further alleged that Ghughe issued a death threat during the heated confrontation, leaving him frightened and humiliated before his colleagues. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and dignity of government officials performing their duties.
Legal Action and Police Response
Following Gutte's complaint, the Kalmanuri police registered a non-cognisable offence under sections 352 (intentional insult) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The offence was officially recorded on Saturday at 1:43 PM, initiating legal proceedings against the political leader.
Police officers explained that since the case is non-cognisable, a station diary entry has been made, and further action will follow the procedure prescribed under law. The complainant has been informed about his legal options, including approaching a magistrate to seek appropriate directions for the case to proceed. This distinction between cognisable and non-cognisable offences determines how police can initiate investigations without a warrant.
Political Context and Response
Gajanan Ghughe, 60, is a resident of Naik Nagar in Hingoli and serves as the district president of the ruling BJP in Hingoli. The incident has drawn attention to the conduct of political representatives when interacting with government officials performing administrative duties.
Despite repeated attempts by media outlets, Hingoli superintendent of police Nilabh Rohan could not be reached for comment on the case. The lack of official police commentary has left questions unanswered about potential political pressure or the department's stance on such incidents involving elected representatives.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between political figures and government officials in Maharashtra, particularly in revenue departments that handle sensitive land and property matters. As the legal process unfolds, observers will be watching how both the police and judicial systems handle allegations against a sitting district president of the ruling party.
