Aaditya Thackeray seeks arrest of Sena corporator in Purnekar murder; Mhaske hits back, cites Disha Salian

The murder of Pradeep Purnekar, division chief (vibhagpramukh) of the Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena in Thane, has turned into a political fight. The city is tense over the case. Aaditya Thackeray demanded action against Meenakshi Shinde, and Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske hit back by invoking the Disha Salian case. Accusations between the two Shiv Senas have since sharpened.

A month after Purnekar's murder, Aaditya Thackeray met the Thane Police Commissioner. MP Sanjay Raut was with him. Before meeting the Commissioner, Thackeray had met Purnekar's family. He then discussed the investigation with the police.

Thackeray demanded that Meenakshi Shinde, a corporator of the Shinde faction, be arrested in the case. He also asked why Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was shielding her.

Responding to the allegations, Mhaske targeted Thackeray in turn. Referring to the Disha Salian case, he said he would demand Thackeray's arrest from the CBI. He also said he intended to meet the Union Home Minister for this. Mhaske also named the cases of Sushant Singh Rajput and Mansukh Hiren.

Amid the dispute, a large crowd of Shiv Sainiks gathered in the Anand Ashram area of Thane. Tension between the two factions over the investigation into the Purnekar murder is high, and political circles are watching for what happens next.

Meanwhile, Meenakshi Shinde has resigned as the Shiv Sena's women's wing chief (mahila shakha pramukh). She said she took the decision so that the party leadership would not be defamed. She alleges that her name is being linked to matters she has nothing to do with, to put pressure on the party leadership.

Questions are being raised about the investigation into the Purnekar murder even as political accusations grow sharper. What the investigation turns up and what action the police take next will be key.