NCP MLA denies slapping official after video goes viral

Mumbai, Aug 17 (PTI) A video purportedly showing NCP MLAfrom Karjat, Suresh Lad allegedly slapping a deputy collectorin Maharashtra’s Raigad district has gone viral on socialmedia, even as the legislator denied having assaulted theofficial. The Nationalist Congress Party MLA was caught on cameraallegedly slapping Deputy Collector (land acquisition) AbhayKargutkar, reportedly after a disagreement over compensationto farmers for land acquisition. The incident took place last Thursday during a meetingcalled by Kargutkar to settle disputes about land acquisitionfor an oil pipeline. NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik told PTI that the MLA hasdenied slapping the official. "Why is the official silent? Why hasn’t he lodged anypolice complaint, if he was indeed assaulted," Malik said. The location where the alleged incident took place wasnot a government office but the premises of a leadingcorporate house, another NCP leader said. "Maybe that’s why the official, who was acting as anagent of that corporate, is keeping mum," he said. Meanwhile, an official said that Kargutkar has lodgeda complaint with Palghar District Collector over the allegedassault by NCP MLA. In a letter to the Collector, Kargutkar has said he wasassaulted by Lad. PTI VT GKDV