Pooja Chavan suicide case: Sanjay Rathod visits Pohardevi temple, accorded red carpet by supporters

On Feb 23, 2021

Mumbai: Maharashtra Forest Minister Sanjay Rathod was spotted 15 days after his name surfaced in the alleged suicide of TikTok star Pooja Chavan.

Rathod on Tuesday morning was accorded a red-carpet welcome by his supporters during his visit to Pohradevi temple in Washim, an important place of worship for the Banjara community in Maharashtra’s Washim district. He reached the temple to pay homage to the Goddess. He was accompanied by his wife which gave a clear message that his family is supportive of him during this difficult time.

Ahead of his visit to the temple, a video of people, presumably his supporters, laying the red carpet for receiving him was seen in a report broadcasted by ABP Majha. Rathod started at around 10:30 am in the morning from his residence in Yavatmal to the hallowed Pohradevi temple in neighbouring district Washim.

Huge crowd gathered to receive the minister at Pohradevi temple in the Washim district of the state thus violating the covid restrictions ordered by State Cgief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday.

#WATCH | Crowd gathers as Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Rathod's convoy reaches Pohradevi temple in Washim district; police baton-charge to disperse them. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/Mh479pV6Fh
— ANI (@ANI) February 23, 2021

Meanwhile, the Pohradevi Peetha has directed Rathod to face the inquiries in the Pooja Chavan suicide case. The mahants of the peetha have backed the embattled leader, with mahant Jitendra Maharaj of Pohradevi fort alleging that a conspiracy is being hatched to undermine a leader from a backward community.

The deceased – Pooja Chavan (22) – hailed from Beed district and had just come to Pune to attend an spoken English course. She was living along with two youth, said to be her brother and his friend. On February 8, she allegedly died by suicide at Heaven Park building in the Wanawadi area of the city, sparking off a controversy.