Purnekar murder: Widow says Shinde sent man to settle for Rs 17 lakh, police defend probe

Twenty-eight days after the murder of Thackeray-camp division chief Pradip Purnekar in Thane, former mayor Minakshi Shinde and Rajendra Shinde of the Shinde Sena remain the main suspects in the case, but no firm action has been taken against them. The political temperature in Thane has risen sharply. On Tuesday, the Thackeray camp and its supporters took to the streets, and the city saw high-voltage drama and traffic jams through the night.

Meanwhile, Pradip Purnekar's wife, Vijeta Purnekar, made sensational allegations against Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Speaking to reporters outside Naupada police station, she named Shinde directly. She said "Shinde saheb" had sent a man to settle the matter. She also alleged that he put the price of the Purnekar family's lives at Rs 17 lakh. Vijeta Purnekar said he thought the family could be bought for Rs 17 lakh, but that her family would not be sold.

Pradip Purnekar's son, Ram Purnekar, had set out on Tuesday, October 27, to protest outside Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's residence in Thane. Police detained him on the way and took him to Naupada police station. As the news spread, local leaders of the Thackeray camp and the MNS gathered at the police station. The protest, which began on Tuesday afternoon, continued until midnight.

Elsewhere, Purnekar's supporters held strong demonstrations at Ghodbunder Road, Kapurbawdi Naka, Manpada, Balkum and Kolshet Road. Protesters burnt tyres on the road and staged a road blockade. Traffic heading from Mumbai and Thane towards Gujarat came to a complete halt. In the Manpada area, there was a heated exchange between protesters and police. Towards dawn, police used mild force to clear the roads and restore traffic.

The repercussions of the case are likely to be felt across the state. A "Maha Andolan" has been called in Thane at 5 pm on Thursday, October 29. It is learnt that Thackeray-camp MLA Aaditya Thackeray, MP Sanjay Raut, leaders of various parties and local BJP office-bearers will also take part.

Meanwhile, police have said the investigation is being conducted in an utterly impartial and transparent manner. Joint CP (Crime Branch) Punjabrao Ugale and SIT chief Amarsingh Jadhav gave details of the probe at a joint press conference on Wednesday. Police issued a clear warning that strict action would be taken against anyone who creates a law-and-order problem.

The first accused, Papya Shinde, was arrested from the spot immediately after the incident. After questioning, Nikhil Yadav and Nitesh Pawar were arrested, and a pistol and vehicles were seized from them. A special team of 23 officers and staff is working on the investigation. Statements of 12 witnesses have been recorded so far, and hundreds of CCTV footage clips have been examined.

Minakshi Shinde and Rajendra Shinde have been summoned repeatedly for questioning, and evidence is being collated. The statement given by accused Amit Singh does not mention a political motive behind the murder. Police said misunderstandings about the investigation are being spread in society, but that they are working without any pressure. Appealing to protesters not to take the law into their hands, they said cases have been registered against those who did so the previous day. Police also said the evidence and CCTV footage provided by Ram Purnekar are being thoroughly examined, and that the whole truth will emerge soon.