Maharashtra: Fadnavis orders high-level probe into firing by BJP MLA on Sena leader

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday ordered a high-level inquiry into the Ulhasnagar firing incident involving a BJP MLA and a local Shiv Sena leader, calling it “serious”.

Kalyan MLA Ganpat Gaikwad of the BJP opened fire on Mahesh Gaikwad, the Shiv Sena chief of Kalyan, inside a police station at Ulhasnagar in Thane district on Friday night over a land dispute, a police official has said.

“The incident is serious and I have asked the DGP (director-general of police) to hold a high-level Inquiry. Everyone is equal before the law irrespective of their political affiliations,” Fadnavis told reporters.

The probe will find out what made the MLA open fire and under what circumstances, he said. State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the party will take action against the MLA if he is guilty.

Speaking to news channel Zee24taas before his arrest, Ganpat Gaikwad said he used the firearm as his son was being beaten (by the Sena leader's men) inside the police station. Chief minister Eknath Shinde is trying to establish a "kingdom of criminals" in Maharashtra, he alleged.

The BJP MLA accused the CM’s son and Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde of putting up boards and grabbing credit for work done by Ganpat Gaikwad. “I had told my seniors many times that these people are indulging in violence against my leaders,” he said.

Ulhasnagar is a part of the Kalyan parliamentary constituency.