Maharashtra Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, 25 June firmly dismissed fears of a bomb threat while assuring residents that the police would act decisively against anyone issuing violent intimidation. His remarks came directly in response to a letter by Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut to Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, demanding the arrest of Sanjay Dina Patil — a former Shiv Sena (UBT) MP who recently defected to the Shinde faction — under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) over alleged bomb threats and murder claims.

What Fadnavis Said

'We will not allow anyone's house to be blown up with a bomb, and no one needs to be scared of such hollow threats. If someone is issuing threats, the police are highly capable and will give them a fitting reply,' CM Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur. He reiterated that law enforcement would take 'appropriate and strict legal action' and directly reprimanded the rhetoric attributed to Patil. His statement was calibrated to reassure citizens without escalating the political confrontation further.

What Raut Alleged in His Letter

Sanjay Raut, in his letter to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, alleged that Sanjay Dina Patil made a series of deeply alarming statements against protesters in Mumbai North East — a constituency where voters have reportedly taken to the streets accusing Patil of 'betraying their mandate' by switching factions. According to Raut, Patil allegedly told protesters: 'Do not mess with me. Before protesting against me, make sure you get life insurance because I will send you straight to the cemetery or the hospital. I have already killed five people in the past. If anyone protests against me, I will throw a bomb at them or storm into their houses to kill them.'

Raut argued that these alleged statements amounted to a public confession of prior killings and an explicit threat of violence, and demanded that the Mumbai Police immediately register a murder case against Patil. He also called for a comprehensive anti-terror raid at Patil's residence, citing the alleged bomb threat. 'The threat of using bombs from a sitting Member of Parliament is deeply alarming. If these bombs are being manufactured inside his house, a swift search must be conducted with the help of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). This is a grave matter of national security, and he must be arrested under the UAPA,' Raut wrote.

The Political Context

The confrontation is rooted in the ongoing fallout from the Shiv Sena split. Sanjay Dina Patil is among six MPs who reportedly defected from the Shiv Sena (UBT) — the faction led by Uddhav Thackeray — to the Eknath Shinde faction. Raut alleged that all six defected MPs are facing 'immense public backlash' across Maharashtra. He emphasised that citizens have a constitutional right to protest and demand answers from their elected representatives, and that Patil's alleged threats amounted to a suppression of democratic dissent.

The Mumbai North East region has, according to reports, become a flashpoint, with workers from both the Thackeray and Shinde factions clashing on the ground, deepening political and civil unrest in the area.

What Happens Next

With CM Fadnavis — who also holds the Home Ministry portfolio — having publicly committed to strict police action, the Mumbai Police's response to Raut's letter will be closely watched. No arrest or FIR had been reported as of Thursday evening. The episode is likely to intensify factional tensions ahead of any future electoral contest in Mumbai North East, while also putting pressure on the Shinde faction to distance itself from the alleged statements.