Money for drummers and trouble for Azmi

It was a day of high drama outside the office of the suburban collector in Bandra (East) on Monday.

Supporters of Samajwadi Party candidate Abu Aseem Azmi were caught unawares when they flashed money while dancing to the beating of drums and Congress candidate Priya Dutt missed registering her name by a few minutes thanks to the chaos created by her supporters just off the Western Express Highway.

As Azmi was filing his nomination for Mumbai North West in the suburban collectors’ office – which has an election commission office for Mumbai suburbs – his brother Saeed Azmi and SP supporters were dancing outside the office gate.

It is alleged that Saeed was distributing money to the drummers and the police caught. When asked about this incident, director general of police (elections) Suprakash Chakravarty said he has sought a detailed report from the police commissioner and an enquiry will initiated if needed.

Priya Dutt, Congress candidate for Mumbai North Central, started from her residence at Pali Hill, Bandra (West) well in time. But with loads and loads of supporters blocking her way near the Kherwadi Junction right up to the collector office, she could not reach the office in time.

According to Krishna Hegde, her secretary, she reached the office just minutes after the deadline for the day was over. “She will file her nomination on Wednesday or Thursday,” Hegde told DNA.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate from Mumbai North Central, Sheikh Ibrahim Ghulam Ali alias Bhaijaan, filed his nomination in the presence of hundreds of BSP supporters while Mahesh Jethmalani of the Bharatiya Janata Party filed his nomination earlier in the morning.

Sheikh Ibrahim has total assets worth Rs.29.19 crore, according to the affidavit he filed. This includes land property worth Rs8.49 cr on his name and Rs12.55 crore in his wife Farida’s name. He also has investments worth Rs3 crore plus in real estate and owns two Toyota Qualis jeeps.

Jethmalani, who has assets totalling Rs16.62 crore, owns two apartments at Nariman Point besides jewellery worth Rs45 lakhs in his and his wife Haseena’s name. This includes diamonds and precious stones (totalling over 200 karats) and gold weighing 1187 grams.

According to the affidavit filed, he owns three cars, including a Mercedes Benz E280 CDI. Besides his house in Walkeshwar, Jethmalani also owns 82 guntha of land in Alibaug.