RPI chief Ramdas Athawale evicted from government house

RPI chief Ramdas Athawale was today evicted from his government bungalow in Delhi after the ex-MP refused to vacate the premises triggering a violent reaction when his supporters attacked the newly renovated Mumbai Congress office.

The belongings of Athawale, who lost the recent Lok Sabha election from Shirdi in Maharashtra, were today removed from his Lodhi Estate residence for overstaying despite what officials said repeated reminders to him to vacate. Athawale was not at home when the action was taken.

A team of officials of the Directorate of Estates under Urban Development Ministry, which allots accommodations to MPs, went to his  residence and removed all his belongings.

Athawale, the leader of the Republican Party of India (RPI), condemned the action as a "political vendetta" of the Congress, for joining a Third Front ahead of next month's Assembly elections in Maharashtra.

RPI Delhi chief Mirza Mehta Baig claimed the officials entered the house without any prior notice.

However, senior officials of the Directorate said Athawale had been sent several notices to vacate the house after his allotment was cancelled on June 18. In fact, he was given time till September 3 to evict the premises, they pointed out. The eviction was conducted after Athawale did not heed to the notices, they said.

Mumbai Police arrested 23 persons in connection with the attack on the newly renovated office of Mumbai Congress, which was stoned and some window panes broken. The office was inaugurated by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi just this week.

Additional CP (South) R K Padmanabhan said in Mumbai that the arrested persons are mostly supporters of Athawale.

"We are investigating the matter. An FIR has been lodged," he said.