Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday rejected the bail pleas of former BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad and three others arrested for allegedly opening fire at Shiv Sena leader Mahesh Gaikwad and another party worker inside a police station in Ulhasnagar in February last year.
Bombay High Court Calls Firing in Police Station “Shocking”
Calling it a “shocking incident”, the court said such violence inside a police station “strikes at the very foundation of the rule of law”.
Court: 'Police Station Is Not a Battlefield'
Justice Amit Borkar, while refusing bail, observed, “A police station is not a battlefield, and an ordinary citizen, more so a former MLA, is not expected to visit a police station carrying a weapon, unless there is a deliberate intention to use it.” He added that a public representative engaging in such conduct sends out a message of fear and intimidation to society.
Ex-MLA Accused of Shooting Shiv Sena Leader in Police Cabin
According to the prosecution, on February 2, 2024, rival political factions had gathered at the Hill Line Police Station in Ulhasnagar, seeking registration of FIRs against each other. Around 9:30 pm, Mahesh Gaikwad, the Kalyan unit chief of Shiv Sena (led by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde), was inside the cabin of Senior Police Inspector Anil Jagtap when Ganpat Gaikwad and his associates entered. A heated exchange followed, and as PI Jagtap stepped out to manage the commotion, Ganpat allegedly pulled out a revolver and opened fire at Mahesh.
Ganpat Allegedly Sat on Victim’s Chest, Assaulted Him with Gun Butt
The court noted that Ganpat didn’t stop at firing but, according to the prosecution, “after noting that the victim was still alive, sat on his chest and assaulted him with the butt of the revolver.”
“If taken to be true, this demonstrates not only an intention to kill but also reveals the applicant’s determination to ensure fatal consequences, irrespective of the location and presence of police officers,” the court said.
Bail Denied to Gaikwad’s Bodyguard and Two Aides
The court also denied bail to Ganpat’s bodyguard Harshal Kene and two aides, Kunal Dilip Patil and Nagesh Deepak Baderao, stating that they played active roles in aiding and facilitating the assault. All four are booked under charges of attempted murder, unlawful assembly, and creating terror within the police station.
Court Warns of Erosion of Public Confidence If Such Acts Go Unchecked
Justice Borkar underlined that violence within a police station “cannot be treated lightly” as it “creates an atmosphere of fear and lawlessness” and “sends a wrong message that even the police machinery can be rendered helpless in the face of political power or group violence.”
“Such actions, if left unchecked or viewed leniently at the stage of bail, may seriously erode public confidence in law enforcement agencies and in the justice delivery system,” it added.
Political Power Can’t Shield Serious Crime, Says HC
Highlighting Ganpat Gaikwad’s political influence, his wife is currently a sitting MLA, the court said his stature may exert pressure on witnesses.
“While liberty of a person is precious, it cannot be allowed to be a passport for commission of serious crimes,” the court said while rejecting the bail plea.
