Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday, 29 October directly accused Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of shielding the alleged masterminds in the murder of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar, demanding the immediate arrest of former Thane Mayor Meenakshi Shinde and Rajendra Shinde. The allegations were made at a press conference in Thane after Aaditya Thackeray and other party leaders met the Thane Police Commissioner.

What Aaditya Thackeray Alleged

Addressing the press conference alongside Purnekar's son Ram Purnekar and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, Aaditya Thackeray alleged that while the contract killers had been apprehended, the conspiracy behind the murder would remain hidden until the alleged masterminds are taken into custody. He said that CCTV footage had already been submitted as evidence, yet arrests of the key accused had not been made.

'We demand that the main accused and conspirator should be arrested at the earliest. We have no idea why she is being protected…when we met the police commissioner, we sensed that the policemen are convinced about who the main accused is,' Thackeray said.

He questioned the intent of those in power directly: 'This is a political murder of which CCTV footage is available. Why are the main conspirator and masterminds not being arrested? Why is Eknath Shinde so desperate to safeguard the accused and conspirator?'

Ram Purnekar Detained, Sena (UBT) Cries Foul

Thackeray also criticised Deputy Chief Minister and Thane's guardian minister Eknath Shinde for the reported detention of Ram Purnekar, the victim's son, who had gone to meet Shinde demanding action in his father's murder case. The detention, according to Thackeray, reflected the ruling establishment's reluctance to pursue the case impartially.

'We had come to Thane only to meet the Purnekar family and the police commissioner. But the local MP used abusive language and made a childish attempt to threaten us. Instead of facing us, they protested somewhere else and did not face us,' Thackeray said.

Sena (UBT) Targets CM Fadnavis Over Law and Order

The Sena (UBT) delegation also trained its fire on Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing him of neglecting his responsibilities. Thackeray alleged: 'The Home Minister is busy breaking parties, cutting trees and selling Sahyadri mountain ranges instead of stopping all these things.'

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut went further, claiming that Maharashtra had never had such a weak home minister. Raut declared that Meenakshi Shinde and Rajendra Shinde were the prime accused, and said that 'police will have to arrest both of them.'

Background and Political Context

The murder of Pradeep Purnekar, a prominent Shiv Sena (UBT) leader from Thane, has escalated into a major political flashpoint in Maharashtra. Thane has long been considered the political stronghold of Eknath Shinde, making allegations of complicity by his associates especially volatile. This comes amid an already fractured political landscape in the state, where the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) have been locked in bitter rivalry since the 2022 split. Before Thursday's press conference, Aaditya Thackeray visited the Purnekar family home to meet the deceased leader's wife.

What Happens Next

Sena (UBT) leaders have indicated they will continue pressing the Thane police and the state government for the arrest of the alleged masterminds. With CCTV evidence reportedly in the hands of investigators, the case is expected to remain a central political issue in the coming weeks, particularly as opposition leaders vow to escalate their campaign until accountability is established.