Thane BJP MLA shooting case: Ulhasnagar Court rejects online hearing application, asks to physically produce accused

BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad was arrested on Saturday for shooting at former KDMC corporator. Pic/Navneet Barhate

After being officially arrested for allegedly firing multiple rounds at CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad will be presented in Ulhasnagar magistrate court on Saturday.

Meanwhile, considering the law and order situation and security issues following the Thane BJP MLA shooting case, the Thane Police in Maharashtra requested the court for a hearing via video conferencing. However, the judge rejected the video conferencing application and asked the police to produce all the accused in court physically.

The Hill Line police station in Ulhasnagar had on Saturday officially arrested BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad and two others for allegedly firing upon and injuring former KDMC Corporator and city president of Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Mahesh Gaikwad and his associate.

The incident took place in the cabin of the senior police inspector of Hill Line police station on Friday night.

The police said that a case has been registered against MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, his son Vaibhav Gaikwad and six others.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadanavis ordered a high-level probe in the matter. The Thane Police's crime branch is investigating the case further.

Meanwhile, a huge crowd gathered at the court in support of Mahesh Gaikwad. He is said to be critical.

The police has deployed heavy security to maintain law and order in the city.

An official said that the police had appealed to the Ulhasnagar court to allow hearing via video conferencing as presenting accused physically may create law and order situation. However, A.A. Nikam, Civil Judge rejected the application and ordered to present all the accused in court physically.

The defense lawyer had opposed the production of accused in court via video conferencing and had told the court that physical appearance is mandatory in such cases.

Nilesh Sonawane, ACP, Thane Crime Branch, who is investigating the matter, later left the court room to bring the accused to court after it rejected the online hearing application.

The police had arrested Ganpat Gaikwad and two others on Saturday after Gaikwad and his private security guard Harshal Kane allegedly fired indiscriminately at Mahesh Gaikwad. The incident had also created a tensed atmosphere in Ulhasnagar and its surrounding areas.

The police, on Friday night, had said that at around 9:30 pm Vaibhav Gaikwad, came along with his supporters at Hill Line police station in connection with the land dispute of Eknath Jadhav in Dwarli village. Later, Mahesh Gaikwad, Rahul Patil and Chainu Jadhav along with the other party workers came to file a complaint regarding the said land.

According to a police officer, "When the police officials were trying to control the party workers who had gathered at police station, Ganpat Gaikwad, who was sitting in the cabin of senior police inspector, began firing at Mahesh Gaikwad allegedly with an intention to kill Mahesh Gaikwad and Rahul Patil who were sitting also present in the same cabin. Gaikwad shot Mahesh and Rahul Patil in the chest and seriously injured them."