BJP MLA, Who Opened Fire at Shinde's Man, Sent to Custody Till Feb 14; Victim Critical

A firing incident surfaced in Maharashtra’s Ulhasnagar where a BJP MLA opened fire at Shiv Sena (Shinde) faction leader on Friday night. The shooting took place inside the cabin of senior police personnel at the Hill Line police station where the two politicians, Shinde leader Mahesh Gaikwad and BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad and their supporters had gathered to file a complaint over a long-standing land dispute.

Maharashtra Deputy CM and Home Minister Devendra Fadanavis has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. A Crime branch SIT led by ACP Nilesh Sonawane has been formed for the investigation of the incident.

Meanwhile, a magistrate court on Saturday sent BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad to Police custody till February 14.

According to an ANI report, the two politicians were indulged in a conversation in the hall of senior inspector Anil Jagtap of Hill Line Police station when a clash broke out between their supporters.

Following the ruckus, an argument ensued between the two and BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad shot four rounds of bullets at Mahesh Gaikwad. Shiv Sena MLA Rahul Patil also got injured in the incident.

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The arrested BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad was taken out of the police station for a medical examination on Saturday. He will be produced before the court later in the day.

Three people, including Gaikwad, were arrested in connection with the incident, DCP Sudhakar Pathare said. The accused have been kept in Kalwa Police Station for security purposes. A large force of police has been deployed outside Kalwa police station. The accused will be produced before the Thane court later in the day.

The other accused arrested in connection with the shooting include Ganpat Gaikwad, Harshal Kene, and Sandeep Saravankar.

Shinde Faction Leader Critical

Mahesh Gaikwad sustained serious injuries in the incident and is undergoing treatment at Thane’s Jupiter Hospital. He was initially admitted to Mira Hospital in Ulhasnagar. However, after his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to Jupiter Hospital in Thane at around 11:00 pm.

According to an NDTV report, five bullets have been removed from his body, but his condition remains critical.

“Mahesh Gaikwad and Ganpat Gaikwad had differences about something, and they came to the police station to make a complaint. At that time, they talked, and Ganpat Gaikwad fired at Mahesh Gaikwad and his people. Two people have been injured in this. An investigation is underway,” Sudhakar Pathare, DCP was quoted by ANI as saying.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde on Saturday visited Jupiter Hospital in Thane to meet party leader Gaikwad who was shot by BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad.

Gaikwad Sent to Custody Till Feb 14

A magistrate court in Ulhasnagar sent BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad to Police custody till February 14. The accused were to be presented via video conferencing but, the court has denied permission for video conferencing.

The court asked the accused to physically appear for the hearing.

Who are Mahesh Gaikwad and Ganpat Gaikwad?

Ganpat Gaikwad is a BJP MLA from the Kalyan East constituency. He has won the seat three times since 2009. Mahesh Gaikwad, on the other hand, is a corporator from Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and the group’s Ulhasnagar chief.

It is not immediately clear if the two are related.

Ready to Face Consequences Have No Regrets: Ganpat Gaikwad

According to an India Today report, Ganpat Gaikwad said he is ready to accept whatever decision the court takes on the incident. He further levelled corruption charges against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and alleged that crime has increased under his governance. He also accused the CM of turning him into a “criminal”.

According to an Indian Express report, in an audio clip circulated after the incident, Ganpat Gaikwad alleged that his son was manhandled inside the police station.

“I was frustrated and that is the reason I opened fire. I do not have any regrets. If my son is beaten up inside the police station what do you expect me to do? I was not planning to kill them but if someone behaves this way right in front of the police then I have to act in self-defense,” Gaikwad was quoted Indian Express as saying.

Gaikwad also went on to say that Eknath Shinde will “betray” the BJP.

“Eknath Shinde betrayed Uddhav Thackeray and he is going to commit the same betrayal with the BJP. Eknath Shinde has also embezzled lakhs of rupees from me. Whatever decision the court takes regarding this incident, I will accept,” the BJP MLA was quoted by India Today as saying.

Gaikwad further added that he wants to tell the people that he is “not a criminal” and expressed confidence that the public’s trust will remain with him as they “know him well”.

Opposition Leaders React to Shooting Ulhasnagar Shooting

Calling the firing incident in Ulhasnagar “unfortunate”, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey remarked that leaders of two parties are fighting and trying to kill each other in the “3-engine government”.

“This firing has taken place inside the Police station. The one who opened fire was BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, the one who was shot at was Shiv Sena Shinde Faction leader Mahesh Gaikwad. It is unfortunate that an MLA who needs to work for the welfare of lakhs of people is shooting people…in the 3-engine government, leaders of two parties are fighting and trying to kill each other, ” Anand Dubey said.

Maharashtra Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar took to microblogging sit X and wrote, “An incident of firing between BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad and former corporator of Shinde group Mahesh Gaikwad at Ulhasnagar police station has recently taken place. BJP’s boss “Sagar” is sitting in the bungalow and Shinde group’s “Boss” Varsha is sitting in the bungalow. Therefore, MLAs and office bearers of both the parties are confident that they can dance this maj by putting the police and the law in the state.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi reacted to the incident saying “panaas khoke party and its ally, Bhrashtachari Jodo Party (BJP) are imploding”.

“Shoot out inside a police station! The panaas khoke party and its ally, bhrashtachari jodo party (BJP) are imploding and how. Kalyan BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad held for shooting at Shinde Sena leader,” Chaturvedi saidn in an X post.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut 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.”

LoP Maharashtra, Vijay Wadettiwar remarked that an even “bigger incident can occur if the government pays no attention as the election approaches”.

“If a ruling side leader or a public representative does firing of this kind, it means that the Law and Order situation of the country is in complete disorder…I think that as the elections approach, an even bigger incident can occur if the government pays no attention. We demand that strict action should be taken against public representatives with a criminal mindset…” Wadettiwar said.

(With inputs from Yesha Kotak and Vinaya Deshpande in Mumbai)