Will avenge Karkare insult: Ex-deputy

BHOPAL: Upset over Pragya Thakur’s statement that she had cursed 26/11 martyr

Hemant Karkare

, a retired

Maharashtra Police

officer, Riyaz Deshmukh, filed nomination papers to contest against the BJP candidate in the Bhopal

Lok Sabha

seat.


Deshmukh, who started his career under Karkare and was once the officer’s deputy, said, “After Sadhvi filed her nomination, I made up my mind to contest against her because I cannot see anyone maligning the image of one of the finest and most upright officers in Maharashtra.” He said Karkare guided him in all professional matters and always stood by him. “I want to avenge the insult to Hemant Karkare,” the 60-year-old said.

He will contest as an independent candidate and might get the ‘whistle’ as his poll symbol. His affidavit says he is a “freelancer and blogger” with annual income of Rs 5.6 lakh in the 2016-17 fiscal.

Deshmukh served Maharashtra Police for over three decades and retired as ACP,

Amravati

, in 2016. He has lived in Aurangabad ever since, and started a portal named ‘dilligatenews’. He also offers counselling services in legal cases to civilians and serving policemen.

Deshmukh served under Karkare when the latter was posted as

Akola

SP in 1988.