On Friday night, Ganpat Gaikwad, a Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Ulhasnagar in Mumbai, allegedly opened fire on Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) faction leader Mahesh Gaikwad. The incident apparently took place inside the Hill Line Police Station. Ganpat Gaikwad, who allegedly shot Mahesh Gaikwad over a land dispute, has been detained.
An eyewitness told the media that Mahesh Gaikwad and one of his supporters were shot five times. Mahesh Gaikwad, a Sena leader, was hurt and taken to a hospital in Thane, where a FIR was lodged.
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA was detained on Saturday, 3 February, for reportedly shooting and injuring an Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena lawmaker over a land dispute in Maharashtra’s Thane district, according to police.
On Friday night, Kalyan MLA Ganpat Gaikwad of the BJP opened fire on Mahesh Gaikwad, the Shiv Sena chairman of Kalyan, inside the chamber of the senior inspector of Hill Line police station in the Ulhasnagar district, according to Additional Commissioner of Police Dattatrya Shinde.
Both leaders went to the police station to discuss a “unresolved issue,” which escalated into a heated disagreement and eventually a fight, according to police.
According to sources, BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad and city chief Mahesh Gaikwad were conversing in the hall of senior inspector Anil Jagtap of Hill Line police station on Friday when supporters of BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad began a fight and opened fire on Mahesh Gaikwad.
Shiv Sena MLA Mahesh Gaikwad was critically hurt in the incident and is being treated at Thane’s Jupiter Hospital.
Ganpat Gaikwad represents the Kalyan East constituency in Kalyan, which is around 40 kilometres from Mumbai. His party is allied with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Sena in the Maharashtra government.Mahesh Gaikwad and Ganpat Gaikwad disagreed about something and went to the police station to file a complaint.
According to Additional CP Shinde, Ganpat Gaikwad’s son had went to the police station to file a complaint over a land dispute when Mahesh Gaikwad appeared with his men. Later, Ganpat Gaikwad also arrived at the police station.
During an incident between the MLA and the Sena leader, Ganpat Gaikwad allegedly shot Mahesh Gaikwad inside the senior inspector’s chamber, hurting him and his associate, according to the official.
Addressing the reporters in the early hours, DCP Sudhakar Pathare stated that CCTV footage had been accessed and revealed that the firing occurred from one side.
“They had a disagreement and had gone to submit a complaint at the Hill Line police station. Ganpat fired at Mahesh and his associates, injuring two persons. “We are still investigating the problem,” Pathare stated.
The shots were fired inside SHO’s cabin.
Official Statement from BJP MLA
Yes, I shot him myself. I don’t have any regrets. What will I do if my son is beaten in front of the cops inside the police station,” Ganpat Gaikwad told a news channel. He stated he had fired five shots.
The BJP MLA claimed that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is “trying to create a kingdom of criminals in Maharashtra”. Maharashtra’s ruling coalition includes the BJP and the Shiv Sena, led by Shinde.
“If Eknath Shinde becomes the chief minister, only criminals would be born in Maharashtra. “He has turned a good person like me into a criminal today,” he explained.
Since last year, the Gaikwads have been at odds over the candidate for the Kalyan East Legislative Assembly.
As the elections get closer, a political storm follows:
While Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadanavis requested a high-level investigation into the event, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar stated that he will take up the matter.
“Party representatives should remember that the privileges granted to us by the Constitution should not be misused in this manner. We learned about it late last night. The rules are the same for everyone. I shall discuss this problem with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as well,” he said.
“This is only the beginning; as elections approach, the loot-maar will increase…It also calls into doubt the chief minister’s authority in the state,” he said.
