Thane, Shiv Sena leader and former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde on Friday strongly dismissed attempts to link her name to Shiv Sena functionary Pradeep Purnekar’s murder, saying the charges being levelled against her were baseless.
He was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where he succumbed during emergency treatment. One person has been arrested, while two vehicles allegedly involved in the commission of the crime have been seized. She emphasised that the truth behind the murder would only emerge through an impartial investigation by the police. 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 recorded a detailed statement of 26-year-old Ram Purnekar amid mounting pressure, which also saw Sena leader Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray joining a protest outside the Kapurbawdi police station in Thane on Wednesday. They have set up a 23-member Special Investigation Team to probe the murder.
Police are currently investigating multiple angles, including complaints previously lodged regarding the incident. Purnekar, the Thane division head of Sena , was shot at and stabbed on Tuesday night within the jurisdiction of Kapurbawdi police station.
A day earlier, Ram Purnekar, the son of victim Pradeep Purnekar, accused Meenakshi Shinde and her husband Rajendra of plotting the crime.
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.
