Mumbai, Sep 5 (Mid-day): Nevada Putman, who has 14 cases against him, including one of assaulting a cop, not only managed to get his photo taken while handing over a cheque to Devendra Fadnavis for a project to prevent droughts, but the CM also tweeted it

In an embarrassment for the state government, a man with as many as 14 cases against him — including one of beating up a policeman — not only managed to get a photograph clicked with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, but the CM also tweeted the photo, along with a note of thanks.

The CM, incidentally, also holds the Home portfolio, which manages the police force. On August 31, Nevada Putman, who has 14 cases against him at the Malad and Bangur Nagar police stations, donated Rs 51,000 personally to Fadnavis for the latter’s pet project, Jal Yukt Shivar.

Sources claimed that to avoid controversy, however, since even a simple Google search shows up reports on Nevada’s alleged criminal activities, the donation was made in the name of Nevada’s wife, Andreena Putman. Around 8.30 pm that night, CM Fadnavis tweeted his photo with Nevada and thanked Andreena Putman for the donation.

Criminal past

Santosh Bhandare senior police inspector, Bangur Nagar Police station, said, “There are 14 cases registered against Nevada Putman. Of these, two are with the Bangur Nagar police and the remaining are at the Malad Police station. The last case was registered in 2010.”

Nevada, on the other hand, claims that he has been acquitted in all but one case, but the police are still maintaining old records, as he hasn’t yet submitted the records of his acquittals to them. “Currently, I have only one case against me, which is of beating the constable and even that is not true.

I never hit anyone, I just had a verbal fight. Even the case of me having arms was not true, it was just a toy gun. I will soon submit to the police the records showing that I have been acquitted in almost all the cases and will ask them to remove my name from the records,” he said.

City BJP Vice-President Haider Azam, who took Nevada to meet the Chief Minister and also features in the photograph that was tweeted, said, “I don’t know the background of Putman. He is socially active in our area. He organises Ganpati and is a social worker.”

 Asked about the claim that he had put the name of his wife, Andreena, on the cheque to avoid a controversy, Nevada said, “My wife couldn’t go to donate the cheque, so I donated it on her behalf. When I am doing good things, why do people have to take it in a negative way?” Despite repeated calls and messages, CM Devendra Fadnavis did not comment on the issue