Anil Anna Gote is an Indian journalist, politician, and businessman who has served three times as an MLA in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. He became viral after being named as accused in the Stamp Paper Scam carried out by Abdul Karim Telgi.
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Wiki/Biography
Anil Anna Gote aka Anil Umrao Gote [1]Casemine was born in Dhule, Maharashtra, India. As per one source, he was born on Saturday, 24 May 1947 (age 76 years; as of 2023), and as per another source, he was born on Monday, 24 May 1948 (age 75 years; as of 2023). [2]MyCorporateInfo His zodiac sign is Gemini. He studied till 11th standard at Maharashtra Vidyalaya & Junior College, Pune till 1964. He pursued a Diploma in Civil Engineering (DCE) at the Government Technical Institute, Kolhapur till 1966. [3]ECI Affidavit He later pursued a career in journalism.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 9″
Weight (approx.): 75 kg
Hair Colour: Grey
Eye Colour: Black
Family
He belongs to a middle-class family.
Parents & Siblings
His father’s name was Umrao Talaji Gote. He had a younger brother named Dnyaneshwar Gote who died in August 2017.
Wife & Children
His wife, Hema Anil Gote, is also a politician who has served as Mayor of Dhule and also contested Dhule Legislative elections in 2004. He has a son named Tejas Gote who is married to Sandhya Gote.
Anil Anna Gote (extreme left) with his family
Religion
He follows Hinduism.
Address
House no. 1321, Lane no. 4, Khol Galli, Dhule, Maharashtra – 424001 [4]ECI Affidavit
Signature
Anil Anna Gote’s signature
Career
Journalist
After completing his formal education, Anil started working as a journalist. He worked for many reputed media houses and formed personal connections with various politicians including George Fernandes and Gopinath Munde.
Anil Anna Gote with his wife when he was a journalist
Politician
Legislative Elections
Anil Gote was closely associated with the Shetkari Sanghatana Movement, a farmer’s union based in Kolhapur. He later became a member of the Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya) (SJP(R)), also called as Janata Dal (Socialist) and became MLA in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the first time from Dhule City constituency in 1999 with 2,37,423 votes. In 2004, he fielded his wife, Hema Anil Gote, from Dhule during the legislative elections; however, she lost. In November 2008, he formed his own political party named Loksangram (LKSGM). In 2009, he contested legislative elections on the LKSGM ticket and again became MLA from Dhule City with 2,69,624 votes.
Anil Anna Gote during an election rally
He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before the 2014 legislative elections and became MLA for the third time on the BJP ticket with 2,86,197 votes. He quit BJP before the 2019 legislative elections and contested the elections on LKSGM ticket; however, he lost the elections; he used a whistle symbol during the 2019 legislative elections. On 12 December 2019, he joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Anil Anna Gote with Sharad Pawar (right) after joining NCP
Lok Sabha Elections
Anil Anna Gote twice contested Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and 2019 on LKSGM tickets; however, he lost both elections.
Businessman
He entered the Real Estate business after establishing Bull Hits Infrastructure Private Limited on 3 August 2010. [5]MyCorporateInfo
Anil Anna Gote at the site of one of his real estate projects
Controversies
Criminal Cases
As of April 2019, Anil Gote had 8 criminal cases registered against him; however, he has not been convicted in any case.
- FIR no. 968/1996 filed at Shivaji Park Police Station, Mumbai on 6 April 1996 under the IPC sections 447, 188, and U/S Section 3 of the Property Defacement Act
- FIR no. 135/2002 registered at Bundgarden Police Station, Pune on 7 June 2002 under the IPC sections 255, 467, 472, and U/S Section 3(1)(ii), 3(2), 3(4), 3(5), 4 of MCOCA
- FIR no. 243/2007 filed at Azadnagar Police Station, Dhule in 2007 under the IPC sections 143, 147, 148, 149, 341, 353, 334, and 427
- FIR no. 12/2017 registered at Deopur Police Station, Dhule on 16 February 2017 under the IPC sections 295, 143, 147, 448, 427, 504, and 506
- FIR no. 246/2017 filed at City Police Station, Dhule on 11 November 2017 under the IPC sections 292, 500, 509, and 34
- FIR no. 127/2017 registered at Deopur Police Station, Dhule on 8 December 2017 under the IPC sections 143, 147, 149, 504, 506, and Section 37(1)(3) of the BP Act
- FIR no. 149/2018 filed at Deopur Police Station, Dhule in 2018 under the IPC sections 147, 149, and Sec. 37(1)(3) of the BP Act
- FIR no. 11/2019 registered at City Police Station, Dhule on 8 January 2019 under the IPC sections 294, 400, and Sec 67 of I.T. Act 2000
Telgi Stamp Paper Scam
In 2003, Anil Gote’s name came up during the stamp paper counterfeiting scam carried out by Abdul Karim Telgi in various states of India. Gote was arrested on 30 June 2003 and charged under MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act). It was later revealed that Gote used his political influence to help Telgi obtain a stamp vendor’s licence from the Maharashtra government. He was kept in custody at the Yerwada Central Jail in Pune. Investigations revealed Gote’s close ties with Telgi since the early 1990s as Gote had made Telgi a trustee in his public trust named Kisan Trust.
Anil Anna Gote during a court hearing related to Stamp Paper Scam
It was also alleged that Gote had travelled with Telgi to New Delhi on the same flight and spent a few days in the hotel. Reportedly, Gote was also a frequent visitor to Telgi’s Mumbai office. [6]The Times of India After spending 4 years in jail, Gote was granted bail on 30 June 2007 under the two sureties of Rs 5 lakh each by the Special Judge, Chitra Bhedi, of Special MCOCA Court. Gote had produced his health reports, claiming poor health which was made the basis for bail. [7]The Times of India He was never convicted in the case.
Verbal Spat with Abu Azmi
In December 2016, Gote got into a verbal duel with Maharashtra leader Abu Azmi at the entrance of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly after a ban was imposed on Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation. He accused Azmi of helping anti-national people and promoting terrorist activities in the state. [8]Hindustan Times
Anil Anna Gote (extreme right) during his spat with Abu Azmi
Accusing BJP of corruption
Gote has accused several Maharashtra BJP leaders of corruption on different occasions. In August 2017, he accused several bureaucrats and politicians of purchasing lands in the areas where government projects were announced in order to earn huge profits by selling off the land to the government later. He also said that he would present a list of such people to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). [9]The Tribune In March 20232, Gote alleged that former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis got Rs 10 crores from RKW Developers Limited and Rs 10 crores from other real estate developers which, supposedly, had links with Iqbal Memon, accused in 1993 Mumbai Blasts and confidant of Dawood Ibrahim. [10]The Times of India
Demand to Scrap Legislative Council
In March 2017, while speaking in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Gote demanded that the Maharashtra Legislative Council should be scrapped as it has no constitutional rights. He said that only six states in India had such legislative councils, and it served as a way to politically please those people who were rejected by the voters. [11]India Today Several members of the opposition and the ruling party BJP criticised his remarks including then-Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who warned Gote against making such remarks. [12]India Today
Anil Anna Gote with Devendra Fadnavis (right) discussing scrapping of Maharashtra Legislative Council
Vande Mataram Controversy
In July 2017, Anil Gote cited the Madras High Court order and said that every Indian should be proud to sing Vande Mataram, and leaders like Abu Azmi should not oppose the singing of such a patriotic song. Abu Azmi responded by saying that the government should not make it mandatory for everyone to sing Vande Mataram as it clashes with the religious beliefs of many citizens. [13]India Today
Resignation threat
In November 2018, Gote accused some senior leaders of the BJP of inducting politicians with criminal backgrounds into the party and threatened that he would quit the BJP and resign as MLA on the first day of the winter session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on 19 November 2018; however, he changed his decision after a meeting with then-state BJP chief Raosaheb Danve and BJP organisational secretary. [14]Business Standard [15]The Asian Age
Conspiracy Allegations against Devendra Fadnavis
In December 2019, Gote accused former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of making plans to weaken the local mass leaders of the BJP and alleged that the BJP suffered defeat in the 2019 legislative elections due to Varsha Night Club Gang, a jibe at the meetings at his official residence ‘Varsha.’ He said that Fadnavis conspired with his close associates and said,
Fadnavis sidelined mass leaders like Eknath Khadse, Pankaja Munde, Prakash Mehta, Raj Purohit and others and promoted the coterie of Girish Mahajan, Jaykumar Rawal, Prasad Lad, Pravin Darekar, Ram Kadam and others, who would meet at ‘Varsha’ after 10 pm everyday and conspire to strengthen the local opponents of the mass leaders. I am also a victim of such conspiracy.” [16]Mumbai Mirror
Car Collection
As of October 2019, he owns a Mercedes car worth Rs 77 lakhs and a Mahindra Tractor worth Rs 6 lakhs.
Income
Gote’s income in the financial year 2018-19 was Rs 24,72,719 (approx. Rs 24 lakhs 72 thousand). [17]ECI Affidavit It excludes the income of his wife.
Assets & Properties
Movable Assets
- Cash: Rs. 1,17,000
- Bank Deposits: Rs. 26,340
- Bonds, Debentures, and Shares: Rs 30,000
- Motor Vehicles: Rs. 83,00,000
Immovable Assets
- Agricultural Land: Rs. 15,38,630
Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are according to the year 2019. It excludes the assets owned by his wife. [18]ECI Affidavit
Net Worth
Gote’s net worth for the financial year 2018-2019 was estimated to be in a deficit of Rs. 88 lakhs 46 thousand. [19]ECI Affidavit It excludes the net worth of his wife.
Facts/Trivia
- Anil Gote once slapped a drunk man who was beating his wife; however, the wife turned on Gote following which the local public beat up Gote.
- In July 2016, Gote demanded that Maharashtra’s highest award, Maharashtra Bhushan, should be awarded to Rajinikanth aka Shivajirao Gaikwad. He claimed that Rajinikanth hails from Kolhapur and has contributed to Marathi cinema as well. [20]India Today He further demanded that the Maharashtra government should pass a resolution asking the Indian government to confer India’s highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, to Rajinikanth. [21]The Financial Express
- In October 2019, before the counting of votes for the Dhule Legislative Assembly constituency, he guarded the EVM strongroom in his area, claiming that he wanted to avoid any misuse of EVMs; however, he lost the elections. [22]Hindustan Times
Anil Anna Gote guarding EVM strongroom in 2019
References
