Saturday, April 9 2005 13:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has expelled a Seva Dal functionary whose name had cropped up for allegedly trying to strike a Rs 12 crore deal with Maharashtra Bar Owners Association chief, Manjitsingh Sethi to help him in getting the ban on dance bars withdrawn.

Vilas Satnam was expelled for 'anti-party' activities, party sources said adding the action was taken after his name figured in the allegations made by Sethi.

Sethi has claimed that Satam allegedly demanded Rs 12 crore on behalf of deputy Chief Minister R R Patil to withdraw the ban. Satam allegedly took Sethi to the NCP office at Nariman Point, where he was introduced to Paresh Patil, a contractor who had furnished the NCP office and claimed to be close to several NCP leaders.

Although the deal never materialised, Sethi himself blew lid and came out in public about the demand made on behalf of the Deputy Chief Minister. Sethi claimed he had telephone records to prove that Satam had called him on the issue.

Patil denied that he had anything to do with Satam and others as claimed by news reports, and told inside the State legislature that such culprits will be punished.

Sethi told sources that Satam was the root to the episode. "He first called me the day Patil announced the ban on dance bars in the State, and subsequently called several times," Sethi said.

"If they (NCP) have expelled him, it means they admit that the money was demanded," he added.

State NCP president Arun Gujarathi, however, denied that Satam's expulsion has nothing to do with Sethi's allegations. "The Sewa Dal unit had lodged complaint against Satam a month ago, that led to the expulsion," Gujarathi said.

Gujarathi said that Sethi has also not complained about Patil, but merely mentioned that "some persons claiming close to him" had asked money.

He further said that the party has not received any complaint from Sethi in this regard, but if any such complaint reaches the party, action will be taken against the culprits.

Vilas Satam was, however, not available for comment.