Not Only Indira Gandhi, Karim Lala Also Met Bal Thackeray, Sharad Pawar: Reports

A day after Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut claimed that Indira Gandhi met underworld don Karim Lala in Mumbai, pictures of the former prime minister meeting Lala surface on social media. An image of Karim Lala meeting with former Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray also emerged. Another report, quoting Lala's grandson Salim Pathan, said that there are pictures of the former prime minister, Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar meeting Lala. The report also claimed Pathan has shared Karim Lala's pictures with Indira Gandhi and other political leaders.

These pictures surfaced on social media: 

During an interview to the Lokmat media group at its award function in Pune on Wednesday, Raut had claimed that Indira Gandhi used to meet Karim Lala in Pydhonie (in south Mumbai).

"They used to decide who will be Mumbai's police commissioner and who will sit in Mantralaya . When Haji Mastan came to Mantralaya, the entire secretariat would come down to see him. Indira Gandhi used to meet Karim Lala in Pydhonie," claimed Sanjay Raut.

However, Raut withdrew his comment on Thursday saying, "If someone feels my statement hurt Indira Gandhi's image, or someone's feelings, I take it back."

Meanwhile, terming Raut's comment as 'wrong', Maharashtra Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat said the party will not tolerate such remarks. Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan went a step further as he cryptically said that his party is "ready to pay whatever price required", but will not tolerate comments against the late prime minister.