The incident took place at the Hill Line Police Station in Ulhasnagar. According to the police, Gaikwad’s son had come to the police station to file a complaint in a land dispute case. Mahesh Gaikwad, the Kalyan unit chief of Shiv Sena, also arrived at the police station with his supporters.
Soon after, Ganesh Gaikwad also reached the police station. An argument broke out between the two groups, following which Ganesh Gaikwad allegedly opened fire inside the cabin of the senior inspector. Mahesh Gaikwad and his associate were injured in the firing.
Ganesh Gaikwad claimed that he fired in self-defense as his son was being beaten up by the police inside the police station. He also accused Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of trying to establish a “kingdom of criminals” in Maharashtra.
The BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena are part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra.
Mahesh Gaikwad was initially taken to a local hospital and then shifted to a private medical facility in Thane. His condition is said to be stable.
The police have registered a case against Ganesh Gaikwad and two others under sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
This incident has sparked outrage in Maharashtra. The opposition parties have demanded the resignation of Ganesh Gaikwad and a high-level probe into the incident.