The Bureau of Immigration has issued a look out circular (LOC) against Pravin Kalme, an activist who runs a city-based NGO, Earth.
The LOC has been issued owing to a non-bailable warrant against him after a case was filed at Nirmal Nagar police station last year for theft of Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) files. Kalme is considered to be close to several ministers of the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and has been accused of stealing important documents pertaining to corruption in the SRA.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had made serious allegations on the absconding activist and suggested links with MVA ministers Anil Parab, Jitendra Awhad and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. Somaiya alleged that Kalme was an associate of Awhad.
As per senior crime branch officials, Kalme is suspected to be hiding in the UAE and the LOC is a legal process to get him back to India. “LOC was issued last month on the basis of the case registered with the Mumbai police and the nonbailable warrant issued against him,” confirmed an official on condition of anonymity.
Somaiya has also blamed Thackeray for shielding Kalme from police action.
“We have been demanding action against him for the last six months, ” he said.
