Shiv Sena Candidate Lalit Kolhe Secures Victory While Incarcerated
In a remarkable political development, Lalit Kolhe, a Shiv Sena candidate, has won the Maharashtra municipal corporation elections from jail. Kolhe contested and triumphed from Ward 11 of the Jalgaon City Municipal Corporation despite being behind bars.
Family Sweeps Elections in Emotional Victory
The election results brought emotional scenes to Jalgaon as three members of the Kolhe family secured wins. Lalit Kolhe's mother, Sindhutai Kolhe, won from the same Ward 11. His son, Piyush Lalit Kolhe, claimed victory from Ward 4. This family sweep created a powerful political statement in the region.
Sarita Kolhe, Lalit's wife and fellow Shiv Sena member, shared an emotional hug with her son Piyush after the results were declared. She broke down while speaking to reporters about the family's collective victory.
Contesting From Behind Bars
Lalit Kolhe, who previously served as Jalgaon mayor in 2017, is currently lodged in Nashik jail. He was arrested in October 2025 following a police raid on a farmhouse allegedly built on his land. The arrest connected to a fake call centre case where authorities claim foreign nationals were duped of lakhs of rupees, with money converted to cryptocurrency.
Despite his incarceration, Kolhe sought and received permission from a magistrate court to file his nomination for the councillor elections from jail. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, under-trials can contest elections while only those convicted and sentenced to two years or more face disqualification.
Wife Claims Public Support Overcomes Allegations
Sarita Kolhe told reporters that the victory demonstrated strong public support for her husband. "He is in jail facing disgusting allegations, but the voters have broken through the shackles to show their love and loyalty towards him and our two family members who also got elected," she said emotionally.
She emphasized that despite the serious charges against her husband, the people of Jalgaon had chosen to support the Kolhe family at the polls.
Legal Battles Continue
Kolhe filed for bail in December 2025, claiming the case against him resulted from political vendetta. He argued there was no evidence of illegal activity on his part. However, police opposed his bail plea, stating they had proof of him receiving rent from other accused in the case.
An additional sessions judge in Jalgaon rejected his bail application on December 24, 2025. The judge noted that the call centre lacked proper licenses and there was prima facie evidence of contacting foreigners to collect bank details. The court deemed the offence serious in nature based on witness statements connecting Kolhe to the call centre operations.
Political Background and Precedents
Lalit Kolhe began his political career with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena led by Raj Thackeray before joining Shiv Sena. His election from jail follows historical precedents where individuals have been elected as MLAs and MPs while incarcerated.
The Kolhe family's triple victory in Jalgaon municipal elections has created a significant political narrative about public support overcoming legal challenges in Maharashtra's political landscape.
