Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also heads the Home Department, seems to differ with his junior minister over the issue of police action against Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad from Buldhana district.

On Friday morning, asked about why police had not lodged an FIR against Gaikwad for assaulting MLA hostel canteen staff, Minister of State for Home, Yogesh Kadam told the media that the police cannot act in the absence of a complainant. “Police need a complaint to take action,” Kadam said.

Both Gaikwad and Kadam are leaders from the Eknath Shinde Shiv Sena faction. However, speaking on the same issue in the Vidhan Bhavan premises, Fadnavis took a contrary stance. “A complaint is not necessary for police to take action. It is up to the police to decide whether it is a cognisable or non-cognisable offence,” the chief minister said.