Thane run-over case: Bureaucrat's son, two friends arrested for assaulting influencer

Ashwajeet Gaikwad, president of BJP Yuva Morcha, son of Anilkumar Gaikwad, MD of MSRDC, and his friends Romil Patil and Sagar Shedge were arrested on Sunday night in connection with the case where they allegedly assaulted and tried to run a car over fashion influencer Priya Singh. Thane Police Chief Jai Jeet Singh had pledged a thorough and impartial probe in the matter. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), too, has been formed, led by DCP (Zone 5) Amar Singh Jadhav, to probe the case.

Priya Singh, 26, got seriously injured after her boyfriend Ashwajeet Gaikwad, president, BJP Yuva Morcha (Thane) - son of MSRDC Managing Director Anilkumar Gaikwad - allegedly tried to run his car over her following an argument. Singh alleged that Gaikwad attacked and tried to strangle her first and then instructed his friend to run over her with his car. She revealed, however, that no action was taken when she initially filed an FIR and the police began to show support only after she posted about the incident on social media. This raised concerns about the initial handling of the case and the need for a comprehensive inquiry, resulting in the SIT being formed.

Priya Singh, victim. Pic/Rajesh Gupta

Singh is an Instagram star with 1.1 million followers. She is a resident of Kharghar in Navi Mumbai and has been in a relationship with Gaikwad for the last four and a half years. "I was kept in the dark about the fact that Gaikwad was already married when we entered into a relationship. I later came to know about this, and when confronted him, he said that they (he and his wife) were no longer together. He said that he wanted to marry me. I was staying with him for a long time," Singh said.

The incident occurred on December 11, when Singh went to meet Gaikwad and discovered that he was with his wife. "I was in complete shock when I went to talk to him. He got aggressive and we got into a fight. He slapped me and tried to strangulate me. I tried to push him away, but he bit my hand, beat me up, and pulled my hair. His friend then pushed me to the ground," she stated. Gaikwad then instructed his friend to run her over. According to Singh, the incident has left her with serious injuries from her left shoulder down to her hips. "I have also sustained three fractures in my right leg and it had to be operated upon. I cannot move my body."

Meanwhile, DCP Jadhav told mid-day: "We have detained three (out of five accused named in the FIR). As of now, there are no eyewitnesses to prove attempt to murder hence Section 307 has not been applied. We are probing the case further." The DCP didn't identify the three people detained but according to the FIR, the five individuals named are Ashwajeet Gaikwad, his friends Romil Patil, Prasad Patil and Sagar Shelke, and his bodyguard Shiva.

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Time incident took place on December 11

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No of fractures to victim's leg