BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad Arrested in Connection with Shooting at Shinde Sena Leader
Kalyan West MLA and associates taken into custody after a violent incident at Ulhasnagar police station
In a shocking turn of events, Kalyan West BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, along with two associates, found themselves on the wrong side of the law as they were apprehended by Thane police on Saturday. The arrests follow an alleged shooting incident targeting Mahesh Gaikwad, the Kalyan city president of the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, and a dedicated party activist. The incident unfolded inside a police station in Ulhasnagar, located in Maharashtra’s Thane district, during the late hours of Friday night.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the motive behind the attack may be rooted in a property dispute. According to a police official, an argument over property took an ominous turn, leading to the violent altercation.
“Ganpat Gaikwad and Harshal Nana Kene, both hailing from Kalyan West, allegedly opened fire on Mahesh and Rahul Patil within the confines of the senior inspector’s cabin at the Hill Line police station in Ulhasnagar. Sandeep Anant Sarvankar and other supporters of Ganpat were also implicated, with Sarvankar among those arrested alongside Ganpat and Kene. The search is on for three more individuals linked to the incident,” informed Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4-Thane) Sudhakar Pathare.
Both victims, Mahesh and Patil, are currently receiving medical attention at a local hospital. Reports indicate that the dispute between Ganpat and Mahesh initially brought them to the Hill Line police station around 10 pm on Friday. The situation escalated during an argument that unfolded within the senior police inspector’s office, culminating in Ganpat and an accomplice allegedly firing multiple rounds at Mahesh and Patil.
The injured were swiftly transported to Meera Hospital in Ulhasnagar and later shifted to Jupiter Hospital in Thane for further treatment.
As investigations continue, authorities are exploring whether the confrontation stems from political rivalry or if there are personal issues at play. A senior police officer stated, “We have detained three individuals and are actively pursuing three more suspects. Eyewitness statements are being recorded, and CCTV footage is being scrutinized to establish the precise sequence of events. The ongoing probe will also delve into the underlying dispute between Ganpat and Mahesh.”
