BJP MLA Arrested for Shooting Shiv Sena Leader in Thane Land Dispute
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member, Kalyan MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, has been taken into custody for allegedly shooting and injuring Shiv Sena's Kalyan chief, Mahesh Gaikwad, during a land dispute in Thane, Maharashtra. The incident took place inside the senior inspector’s chamber at Hill Line police station in Ulhasnagar on Friday night.
According to Additional Commissioner of Police Dattatrya Shinde, Ganpat Gaikwad claimed to have used the firearm in defense of his son, who was allegedly being assaulted at the police station. Gaikwad accused Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of attempting to establish a "kingdom of criminals" in Maharashtra.
After the incident, Mahesh Gaikwad was initially taken to a local hospital and later transferred to a private medical facility in Thane, where he underwent a successful surgery.
Additional CP Shinde reported that Ganpat Gaikwad's son had visited the police station to file a complaint about a land dispute. Mahesh Gaikwad and his associates arrived, followed by Ganpat Gaikwad. In the ensuing altercation, shots were fired inside the senior inspector’s chamber, injuring Mahesh Gaikwad and one of his associates.
Ganpat Gaikwad, speaking to a news channel, admitted to the shooting without expressing remorse. He justified his actions, claiming self-defense, stating that he took the extreme step as his son was being assaulted inside the police station. Gaikwad accused Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of fostering criminality in Maharashtra and transforming him from a law-abiding citizen into a criminal.
The BJP MLA, along with two others, faces charges including attempted murder and criminal conspiracy under IPC sections 307 and 120B. Gaikwad, however, argued that he was defending himself against the violent tactics allegedly promoted by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He accused Shinde's son, Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde, of taking credit for his work and resorting to violence against BJP leaders.
Gaikwad revealed his repeated warnings to seniors about these actions and claimed to have legally won a land dispute in court after purchasing the plot ten years ago. However, Mahesh Gaikwad allegedly forcibly occupied the land. The BJP MLA called for Shinde's resignation, seeking intervention from Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and PM Narendra Modi to ensure effective governance in Maharashtra.
