Maribyrnong mayor Pradeep Tiwari has stood down after dangerous driving charges were laid against him.
Cr Tiwari has been charged with traffic offences relating to an incident in Flemington on June 14 last year, before he was elected to Maribyrnong council.
On Thursday, August 21, an arrest warrant was issued against the mayor after he failed to appear before the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court to face the driving charges.
It’s believed the arrest warrant was withdrawn hours later after discussions with the mayor’s legal team.
Deputy mayor Bernadette Thomas will serve as acting mayor of Maribyrnong in Cr Tiwari’s absence.
In a statement, Cr Tiwari said he had only recently become aware of the dangerous driving charges and that he was standing down from his duties as mayor and as a councillor while the matter was dealt with.
“Once this legal matter and investigation are resolved, I fully intend to return to my role and continue representing our community,” said Cr Tiwari, adding that he expected the matter to be resolved in a matter of weeks not months.
Cr Tiwari’s term as mayor concludes in November.
Speaking to Star Weekly, Cr Tiwari said he hoped to return to council before his term ends.
“I’ve got some very interesting works to complete [as mayor] so I intend to fully come back and complete those works,” he said.
Cr Tiwari wouldn’t comment further on the charges as the matter was now before the courts, but said none of the alleged offences occurred while he was on council.
“It’s got nothing to do with council or my work on council.”
First elected in last October’s municipal elections, Cr Tiwari was elected Maribyrnong mayor in November, with council claiming he was Victoria’s first mayor of Indian heritage.
While thanking those who’d shown their support since reports of the driving charges and arrest warrant emerged on Thursday, Cr Tiwari slammed the racist comments he’d received.
“It is very difficult for me to understand why the entire Indian community is being mocked and degraded with racist commentary,” he said.
“Racism has no place in our society, and I will continue to call it out whenever it appears.”
