Maharashtra BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, who shot Shiv Sena leader Mahesh Gaikwad, has blamed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for his act.
Ganpat Gaikwad who was arrested by the police has put the blame for the incident on Shinde. Reportedly, before his arrest, Ganpat Gaikwad said Eknath Shinde "made me a criminal".
"My son was manhandled at the police station and my land was forcibly taken from me. If Eknath Shinde continues as Maharashtra Chief Minister, all we will see is the rise of criminals. He has made a good person like me a criminal today," Ganpat Gaikwad was heard saying in an audio clip released ahead of his arrest.
He has alleged that his son was being "beaten up" at the police station and in reaction he had shot at Shiv Sena leader Mahesh Gaikwad.
"I was frustrated and that's why I opened fire. I have no regrets. If someone beats up my son at the police station, what do you want me to do? I didn't mean to kill them," said Ganpat Gaikwad.
He also claimed that he fired five rounds at Mahesh Gaikwad, PTI reported. However, police said ten rounds of bullets were fired as per the preliminary probe.
Incident:
On Friday night, Kalyan MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, who belongs to the BJP, shot at and injured Mahesh Gaikwad, the chief of Shinde-led Sena in Kalyan, inside the senior police inspector's chamber in a police station in Ulhasnagar, sending shockwaves in state political circles.
According to the police, Ganpat Gaikwad’s son went to the police station on Friday evening to lodge a complaint in connection with a land dispute when Mahesh Gaikwad arrived there with his men. Ganpat Gaikwad also reached the police station.
An altercation broke out between the MLA and the Sena leader, and Ganpat Gaikwad fired shots at Mahesh Gaikwad inside the senior inspector’s chamber, injuring him and Mahesh's associate Rahul Patil.
Defending his act, Ganpat Gaikwad said he used the firearm as his son was being beaten at the police station.
Targeting Eknath Shinde, he said only criminals will be born in Maharashtra if Shinde is the chief minister.
