Thane, Oct 29 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday alleged the Maharashtra government was shielding the “masterminds” behind the murder of party colleague Pradeep Purnekar.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Manpada ward chief Purnekar was killed on September 29. He was shot at and then attacked with sharp weapons.
Addressing a press conference here with Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, the Worli MLA said, “The murder of Pradeep Purnekar is clearly political. Why is action not being taken despite the ready availability of CCTV footage of the suspects? Why is Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde protecting the accused and masterminds.”
If justice is not delivered, a massive march will be organized in Thane, Thackeray said.
“Bihar was historically cited as an example of poor governance, but the situation in Thane has deteriorated to a point where one is forced to say Bihar is better. When Purnekar’s son Ram wanted to meet the guardian minister, he was detained. Why is the guardian minister so afraid despite having Z security,” Thackeray asked.
The government machinery is being misused to protect former mayor Meenakshi Shinde, Thackeray alleged. His statement came on the day Shinde quit as Shiv Sena’s Thane district women’s wing chief. She quit two days after she was questioned by police in connection with the murder of Purnekar.
Raut claimed Maharashtra had never seen as weak a chief minister as Devendra Fadnavis.
“The situation in Thane is worse than that of Beed,” said Raut, who, along with Thackeray, visited the Purnekar family.
The two also met Thane police commissioner Ashutosh Dumbre.
Arresting Meenakshi Shinde and her husband Rajendra Shinde is imperative to uncovering the true motive behind the killing, Raut asserted.
Hitting back, Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Naresh Mhaske slammed the “politicisation of the case”.
He criticised the Maha Vikas Aghadi for holding protests that were disturbing peace in the area.
“Attempts to malign Eknath Shinde and destabilise Thane’s peace will be met with resolute counter-measures from Shiv Sea workers,” Mhaske warned. PTI COR BNM
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