Ram Purnekar demanded the arrest of Meenakshi and Rajendra Shinde within 24 hours. The family threatened a protest amid allegations of political pressure on investigators.Son of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar demanded the arrest of former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde. (File photo)Thane,Oct 26, 2026 16:32 ISTThe son of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar, who was killed in September, on Monday demanded the arrest of former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde and her husband within 24 hours, PTI reported.Ram Purnekar warned that the family, community members and political supporters would protest outside Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's residence in Thane if no action was taken.Pradeep Purnekar, the Shiv Sena (UBT) Manpada ward chief, was killed at his office on September 29.
Five people have been arrested in the case.At a press conference in Thane, Ram Purnekar presented video clips and photographs that he said supported his allegations. He claimed that a helmeted person seen in the footage appeared to be wearing the same clothes and footwear as Rajendra Shinde, Meenakshi Shinde's husband, had worn hours before the incident.
Ram Purnekar also alleged that Rajendra Shinde was seen having tea with four of the arrested suspects, according to PTI.He has accused Meenakshi Shinde, who belongs to the rival Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and her husband of plotting the killing. Meenakshi Shinde has denied the allegations and called them baseless.
Police have questioned Rajendra Shinde in connection with the case. Ram Purnekar said the deputy chief minister had assured the family that justice would be delivered, but no concrete action had been taken so far.The family displayed photographs showing one of the accused with Eknath Shinde.
It also presented pictures of Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik with an accused and alongside the head of the Special Investigation Team probing the killing.Another video clip shared with the media showed Pradeep Purnekar saying before his death that the police and Meenakshi Shinde would be responsible if anything happened to him. His family alleged that officials were working under political pressure, PTI reported.Ram Purnekar reiterated that the family would hold a protest outside Eknath Shinde's Thane residence with community members and political supporters if Meenakshi Shinde and Rajendra Shinde were not arrested within 24 hours.- EndsWith PTI inputs