In a new development related to the incident, involving BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad open firing on Shiv Sena leader Mahesh Gaikwad during a land dispute at a police station in Ulhasnagar, Thane district, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a high level investigation.
Deputy CM Fadnavis expressed the seriousness of the incident, stating, "Everyone is equal before the law irrespective of their political affiliations." He has directed the Director General of Police to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, He said, “The probe will find out what made the MLA open fire and under what circumstances.”
The State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the party will take action against the MLA if he is guilty. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said it was wrong for elected representatives to take the law into their own hands. “I will discuss the issue with Devendra Fadnavis,” Pawar told reporters.
Incident Details
On Friday night at the Hill Line police station, Ganpat Gaikwad's son visited to file a complaint regarding a land dispute. Tensions rose, and it's reported that the BJP MLA fired shots at Mahesh Gaikwad, causing serious injuries to the Shiv Sena leader and another associate, Rahul Patil. The matter revolves around a land dispute, with Ganpat Gaikwad claiming he purchased the plot a decade ago and alleging that Mahesh Gaikwad forcibly occupied it.
Mahesh Gaikwad, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, is in ‘critical condition’, he was initially taken to a local hospital, named Jupiter and later shifted to a private medical facility in Thane, where he underwent an emergency life-saving surgery.
Ganpat Gaikwad and two others men were arrested under various charges of the Indian Penal Code, including attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy, also sparking a political controversy.
The accused were brought to Ulhasnagar Magistrate court, which sent BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad to Police custody till 14 February.
BJP MLA Ganpat says “No regret”
Before his arrest, Ganpat Gaikwad said, “Yes, I shot (him) myself. I have no regrets. If my son is being beaten in front of the police inside the police station, what will I do,” He claimed that he shot in self-defence as his son was being assaulted by Shiv Sena leader Mahesh Gaikwad's men.
The BJP MLA accused Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of attempting to establish a "kingdom of criminals" in Maharashtra and blamed CM's son and Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde for taking credit for his work.
He said, “They have levelled a charge of corruption against me. How much money did Eknath Shinde make in that corruption, Shinde should tell,” he said.
“I had told my seniors many times that these people are indulging in violence against my leaders.”
Ganpat Gaikwad told news reporters that, “Shinde saheb betrayed Uddhav saheb, he will also betray BJP, he owes me crores of rupees. Shinde should resign if Maharashtra is to be well-managed. This is my humble request to Devendra Fadnavis (deputy CM) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Opposition Demand Resignation of CM Shinde
The Congress claimed that the incident pointed to a law and order “breakdown” in the state and demanded the resignation of CM Shinde. NCP president Sharad Pawar termed it worrisome and said there is a limit to the "misuse" of power.
Meanwhile Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut calling CM Shinde ‘responsible’ for the incident, said, “Firing incident is happening in the home town of CM Eknath Shinde and the MLA openly says that Shinde forced him to shoot, that the CM should resign...Today, it happened at a Police station. The manner in which the CMO has become a den of goons, I fear that such incidents can take place even at Mantralaya and CMO." He claimed that the government in Maharashtra has been formed through mobocracy and “gundagiri”.
Party working president Supriya Sule expressed concern, questioning whether the home minister (deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis) had granted an open licence to BJP leaders to manipulate law and order.
She claimed, suggesting that the Centre should intervene and dismiss the state government, "In Pune, a BJP MLA publicly slapped a police officer, and in Ulhasnagar, another BJP MLA fired shots at a former corporator inside a police station. The chief minister and deputy chief minister are maintaining silence.”
Former chief minister Ashok Chavan called the shooting "extremely serious and worrisome”, as mentioned in his post on his social media handle.
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