Valuables worth Rs 12 lakh stolen during swearing-in ceremony of Fadnavis

MUMBAI: Valuables worth Rs 12 lakh were stolen during the swearing-in-ceremony of Mahayuti Government in Maharashtra on December 5 at Azad Maidan. Goods worth Rs 12 lakh including gold chains, purses and mobile phones were stolen.

The major theft was reported at the swearing-in ceremony of BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as the 18th Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and NCP leader Ajit Pawar were sworn in as deputy chief ministers. Around 40,000 people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other political and business leaders, attended the swearing-in ceremony. More than 4,000 police personnel were deployed in the area.

Police said the theft took place when people were exiting the venue through gate number two after the ceremony. The police also said that an investigation has been intensified to catch the thieves. For this, CCTV footage from the area is being examined. Police said that no one has been arrested in the incident so far.

The Mahayuti, which won 230 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly in the elections held on November 20, came to power, but the swearing-in ceremony was delayed due to the ongoing dispute over the chief minister's post. Shinde, who was disappointed at having to step down as chief minister, ended the suspense and announced at the last minute that he would take oath as deputy chief minister.