Mumbai, Aug 31 (TOI): Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis assured all Ganpati mandals that cases filed against them during the 10-day festival will be reviewed and if found to be baseless will be dropped.

Fadnavis also extended the deadline for seeking BMC permission till September 5; the earlier deadline was September 2. Fadnavis convened a co-ordination meeting with umbrella organisations of Ganpati mandals along with officials on Thursday, ahead of the festive season that begins on September 13. BJP MLA Ashish Shelar, who led a delegation of mandals, said the government had decided to withdraw criminal cases against mandal members.

“The state government had formed a sub-committee for withdrawal of criminal charges against members of Ganesh mandals. As per its recommendations, charges will be withdrawn,” Shelar said. The cases could be related to illegal digging of roads and footpaths or violation of noise pollution rules. Fadnavis said BMC had started issuing permission online, which will help mandals next year as data will be stored.