17 October,2026 08:17 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. File Pic
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday assured the son of murdered Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar that justice would be delivered in the case.
"There will be no injustice to your father, I am behind you," Fadnavis said when Ram Purnekar met him in Thane and submitted a formal memorandum seeking justice for his father. The chief minister was in the city to attend Navratri festivities.
Several political leaders were present during the interaction, including BJP Thane district chief Sandeep Lele, MLA Sanjay Kelkar, MLC Niranjan Davkhare and Deputy Mayor Krishna Patil.
Ram Purnekar's meeting with the chief minister comes amid the investigation into the killing of his father, who served as the ward chief of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) in Manpada.
Pradeep Purnekar, the Shiv Sena (UBT) ward chief in Manpada, was killed on September 29 in an attack in Thane. According to police, the assailants fired around six rounds, two of which hit him. The attackers also assaulted him with a chopper after opening fire.
The incident triggered concern among party workers and led to demands for the arrest of those responsible. Police registered a case and launched an investigation into the killing.
Police have arrested five people in connection with the murder, according to reports published earlier this month. Two suspects, Santosh Kanojia, also known as Talli, and Amit Singh, also known as Paplu, were arrested in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on October 9 in a joint operation involving the Thane Police and the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force.
The two were subsequently brought to Thane for further investigation. The arrests took the total number of people held in the case to five.
Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the attack and the roles of the accused.
Fadnavis's assurance to Ram Purnekar comes as the investigation continues. The chief minister's statement followed the submission of the memorandum, in which the slain leader's son sought justice for his father.
The police investigation remains central to establishing the circumstances of the killing and determining responsibility.
(With inputs from PTI)
