Former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde has vehemently denied any involvement in the high-profile murder of Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary Pradeep Purnekar, amidst escalating political accusations and an ongoing police investigation in Thane.
Key Points
- Former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde has strongly denied accusations linking her to the murder of Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary Pradeep Purnekar.
- The victim's son, Ram Purnekar, accused Meenakshi Shinde and her husband of plotting the crime, leading to protests by Sena (UBT) leaders.
- Shinde emphasised the need for an impartial police investigation and expressed full cooperation, dismissing social media videos as potentially AI-generated.
- Police have arrested three individuals, seized two vehicles, and formed a 23-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe multiple angles, including prior threats.
- Thane MP Naresh Mhaske criticised Sena (UBT) leaders for politicising the murder, urging them to allow law enforcement to conduct an uninterrupted investigation.
Shiv Sena leader and former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde on Friday strongly dismissed attempts to link her name to Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary Pradeep Purnekar's murder, saying the charges being levelled against her were baseless.
A day earlier, Ram Purnekar, the son of victim Pradeep Purnekar, accused Meenakshi Shinde and her husband Rajendra of plotting the crime.
Police recorded a detailed statement of 26-year-old Ram Purnekar amid mounting pressure, which also saw Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray protesting outside the Kapurbawdi police station in Thane on Wednesday.
Purnekar, the Thane division head of Sena (UBT), was shot at and stabbed on Tuesday night within the jurisdiction of Kapurbawdi police station. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where he succumbed during emergency treatment. Three persons have been arrested in the case, while two vehicles allegedly used in the crime have been seized.
Shinde's Defence Against Allegations
Addressing a press conference here, Meenakshi Shinde urged leaders of opposition parties and critics to refrain from levelling baseless allegations without any concrete evidence.
She emphasised that the truth behind the murder would only emerge through an impartial investigation by the police.
"I interact with people across my ward as part of my public duty. Simply having a photograph with someone does not serve as proof of a criminal nexus," Shinde stated.
Referring to videos circulating on social media, she noted reports that some content may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and added that police investigation will clarify their relevance to the case.
On opposition leaders naming her in connection with the crime, Shinde remarked, "I am not listed as an accused in the case. Merely because leaders like Sanjay Raut or Aaditya Thackeray take my name does not make me a culprit."
When asked whether law enforcement authorities had summoned her for questioning, Shinde declined to comment directly on specific investigative details but affirmed her complete readiness to cooperate with the police inquiry.
The former mayor urged all parties to refrain from political mudslinging and allow the police to complete a thorough probe to act against the real perpetrators.
Police Investigation And New Leads
Purnekar's son had reportedly alleged in his statement that a resident named Lavanya, who was previously assaulted by Purnekar over suspicions regarding drug trade activities, had threatened him.
Police are currently investigating multiple angles, including complaints previously lodged regarding the incident. They have set up a 23-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the murder.
Political Reactions And Counter-Accusations
Meanwhile, Thane MP Naresh Mhaske accused Sena (UBT) leaders of indulging in petty politics to preserve their party's diminishing presence.
Mhaske asserted that his party stands in solidarity with Purnekar's grieving family, and slammed the Opposition for instinctively blaming Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde whenever a crime occurs in Thane.
"A police probe into the Purnekar murder case is currently underway, and former mayor Meenakshi Shinde has already expressed her willingness to face investigation. Investigating agencies must be allowed to do their work. No culprit will be shielded under any circumstances, and every effort will be made to deliver justice to the Purnekar family," he said.
He said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut should stop fueling tensions through audio clips on social media and must allow law enforcement to conduct their investigation uninterrupted.
Mhaske urged the Uddhav-led faction to self-reflect on why the people of Thane rejected them, rather than attempting to pollute the atmosphere with premature allegations before police complete their investigation.
