Dry district aftermath: Maharashtra minister gets threat

MUMBAI: Less than a week after Maharashtra government declared mineral rich Chandrapur as 'dry district', state Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, instrumental in the decision, received a letter threatening him.

Mungantiwar had played a key role in the decision to ban the sale, purchase, production and consumption of liquor in Chandrapur.

Confirming that he has received threats, Mungantiwar, who hails from Chandrapur in Vidarbha region and is also guardian minister of the district, said a threat letter spoke of "finishing him off and destroying his political career."

"I agree that the liquor vendors will be affected but I have saved families of thousands and lakhs of people from being destroyed due to liquor," he said.

"Inputs about the threats will be assessed by the crime branch," the minister said.

Asked if his security has been beefed up, Mungantiwar said the Chandrapur SP is reviewing the issue, after which a decision will be taken. "I am not scared of such threats," Mungantiwar said.

Chandrapur will be the third district in the state after neighbouring Wardha and Gadchiroli, also in east Maharashtra, where liquor prohibition is brought into effect.

Recently, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Eknath Shinde had also received threat from an unknown person.