Sarnaik faces Oppn fire over Rapido link to family sport event after exposing its illegal services
Mumbai (PTI): A month after exposing the illegal plying of bike taxis by Rapido in Mumbai, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik is now facing Opposition criticism after it emerged the aggregator is the lead sponsor for a 'Dahi Handi' event organised by his family.
Talking to reporters on Thursday, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar accused Sarnaik, an influential Shiv Sean leader from adjoining Thane district, of misusing his ministerial post.
In a much publicised expose on July 2, the Transport Minister booked a ride using Rapido app to verify a senior government official’s claim that illegal bike taxi services were not functional. Pratap Sarnaik booked a ride from Mantralaya in south Mumbai to Dadar in central Mumbai using the app.
When the biker arrived outside Mantralaya, the minister handed him over Rs 500 and counselled him about the illegal service.
Referring to the incident, Pawar noted the Maharashtra government had then said it has still not permitted such services in the state, but Rapido is the main sponsor of the 'Dahi Handi' event, Pro Govinda League (PGL).
"The same Rapido company is the lead sponsor for the Pro Govinda event organised by the minister's family. You used your post to pressurise (the company) to (sponsor) your programme. This is unethical," the Opposition legislator maintained.
The NCP (SP) state general secretary demanded clarification from the BJP-led Mahayuti government on the issue.
Purvesh Sarnaik, son of Pratap Sarnaik, defended the move to seek sponsorship from the bike aggregator, saying Rapido has been associated with the Pro Govinda League even before the July 2 action by the minister.
The game ('Dahi Handi') should not be linked with politics, Purvesh Sarnaik opined.
Dahi Handi is a traditional game and PGL is played on a mat for safety purpose. This should be a matter of happiness for the state, he said.
Pro Govinda is a professional league dedicated to the sport of human pyramid formation, traditionally known as Dahi Handi, which is an integral part of Janmashtami celebrations.
The third season of the PGL began on August 7 at Dome SVP Stadium, Worli, and will conclude on August 9.
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Riyan Parag likely to be fined 25 percent of match fees for vaping inside dressing room
New Delhi (PTI): Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag is set to be fined 25 per cent of his match fee for bringing the game into "disrepute" after being caught vaping on camera during the IPL game against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.
Parag's actions during the Royals' chase on Tuesday night drew condemnation on social media.
PTI has learned that on field umpires Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon had not reported the matter to match referee Amit Sharma right after the game. They only did that after seeing visual proof and Sharma found Parag guilty for a code of conduct breach as per the IPL guidelines.
The Level 1 offences carries 25 per cent deduction from match fees and one demerit point.
"He is set to be fined a portion of his match fees and a demerit point for a Level 1 offence," said an IPL source.
The Indian government had banned e-cigarettes back in 2019, prohibiting their production, sale and distribution. As per the law, the offender faces imprisonment up to one year and/or a Rs one lakh fine for a first time offence.
"Article 2.21 of IPL Code of Conduct is intended to cover all types of conduct that bring the game into disrepute and which is not specifically and adequately covered by the specific offences set out elsewhere in this Code of Conduct, including Article 2.20," the IPL Code of Conduct states.
"By way of example, Article 2.21 may (depending upon the seriousness and context of the breach) prohibit, without limitation, the following: (a) public acts of misconduct; (b) unruly public behaviour; and (c) inappropriate comments which are detrimental to the interests of the game.
"When assessing the seriousness of the offence, the context of the particular situation, and whether it was deliberate, reckless, negligent, avoidable and/or accidental, shall be considered.
"Further, the person lodging the Report shall determine where on the range of severity the conduct lays (with the range of severity starting at conduct of a minor nature (and hence a Level 1 Offence) up to conduct of an extremely serious nature (and hence a Level 4 Offence)."
Since it is a Level 1 offence there was no need for a hearing.
Parag, who has not had the best of times with the bat this IPL, was seen inhaling an e-cigarette, also known as vaping, in the dressing room during the live broadcast of their game against Punjab Kings. Royals won the game to end Kings' unbeaten run in the tournament.
This is not the first controversy to hit the Royals this season. Earlier this month, team manager Romi Bhinder was fined Rs one lakh for breaching PMOA protocol after being found using his phone in the dugout.
IPL and BCCI officials involved in the conduct of the IPL termed it as a careless act in the age of social media and prying TV cameras.
Royals next host Delhi Capitals at home on Friday night.
