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The police raided the Matoshree Sports Club at Jogeshwari, in north-west Mumbai, early on Thursday morning after Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal had alleged that ruling coalition MLAs were being lured by the opposition camp to destabilise the government.
A police team comprising nearly 100 policemen and headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Pradeep Sawant arrived at the club along with NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad and nearly 200 NCP activists.
However, leader of the opposition in the legislative assembly Narayan Rane strongly objected to the sudden action and prevented Awhad from entering the place.
Only the police team entered the club while Awhad and the others waited outside.
Nearly six independents and four NCP rebels are believed to have been lodged in the club by the opposition combine.
The raid comes close on the heels of Bhujbal's warning that he would direct the police and the anti-corruption bureau to take action against those who were using 'undemocratic means' to wean away legislators of the ruling coalition.
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