Nagpur: The truth behind Yash Gourkhede’s allegations against MLA Vikas Thakre has emerged, following a police complaint by Gourkhede’s friend, Darshan Karonde. The complaint accuses Gourkhede of making false claims after Thakre rejected a demand for Rs 20 lakh during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.*
According to the complaint, Karonde, who was present at Gourkhede’s first press conference about the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Cultural Hall demolition incident, revealed that Gourkhede had approached Thakre for financial support in exchange for political leverage. Karonde, alongside another witness, Rajesh Gopale, submitted the complaint to Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rahul Madane, of Zone-II, outlining the alleged extortion attempt.
Today’s Rate
Saturday 05 Oct. 2024
The incident, as detailed in the complaint, occurred on March 29, 2024, when Gourkhede reportedly requested Karonde to arrange a meeting with Thakre. During the meeting, Gourkhede allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh, claiming he could manipulate communal tensions and exploit the legacy of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar to harm reputations.
Thakre, according to the complaint, refused to engage in the demand and referred Gourkhede to his son, Ketan Thakre. Despite meeting Ketan Thakre twice, Gourkhede’s request was again rejected. Undeterred, Gourkhede is said to have continued pressuring the Thakres through calls and messages.
Things escalated on May 16, 2024, when Gourkhede held a press conference related to the demolition of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Cultural Hall. Following this event, Gourkhede began publicly accusing Thakre and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, allegedly as part of a retaliatory campaign after the Rs 20 lakh demand was unmet.
The complaint further states that another party, Narendra Jichkar, who was responsible for the demolition of the cultural hall, allegedly agreed to fulfil Gourkhede’s financial demands. Following this, Karonde distanced himself from Gourkhede, citing discomfort with his friend’s escalating actions.
In recent days, Gourkhede has been seen in videos defaming and insulting Thakre, according to Karonde. The complaint suggests that these defamatory actions are directly linked to Thakre’s refusal to meet Gourkhede’s financial demand.
The complaint, which includes testimony from both Karonde and Gopale, accuses Gourkhede of extortion and exploiting the name of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar for personal gain. A video featuring Karonde and Gopale sharing details of the complaint has since gone viral, drawing significant attention to the matter.
