Surat: Three FIRs were registered against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Dediapada MLA Chaitar Vasava and a few others at Jhagadia GIDC police station in Bharuch district on Wednesday in connection with an altercation involving relatives of a man who died in a chemical company blaze on April 23.Bharuch police confirmed that FIRs had been filed but declined to share details, calling it a “sensitive” matter.While the Jhagadia GIDC police inspector could not be reached for comment, deputy superintendent of police Kushal Oza told TOI, “We cannot share more details as the FIRs pertain to an MLA.”Two workers, one of them identified as Rakesh Vasava, died and 16 others were injured in the fire at Metropolitan Eximchem unit in the Jhagadia industrial area on April 23. The next day, Rakesh’s relative Roshan Vasava visited the factory to discuss compensation for the family. Vasava also reached the spot with supporters, demanding higher compensation for the victims.A video that later went viral shows the MLA arguing with Roshan near the factory gate. During the heated exchange, Vasava slapped Roshan in the presence of a police officer. Roshan slapped him back before others intervened and separated the two. Following the registration of the cases, Vasava accused the government and police of targeting him.In a video statement, Vasava said, “Two persons died in the April 23 fire at Metropolitan Eximchem company. Instead of filing an FIR against the company, the police have registered cases against me. I had gone there to seek justice for the deceased and the victims.”He also alleged that the FIRs were filed after the declaration of local body election results. “The police think such FIRs will scare me and make me spare the company. But I will not be intimidated by such action or even imprisonment. I have fought for workers in Dahej, Jhagadia, Panoli and Ankleshwar in the past and will continue to do so,” he said.The results of the local body elections, in which AAP won the district panchayat in neighbouring Narmada and several taluka panchayats in the region, were declared on Tuesday.
