Kalyan: Dy CM Eknath Shinde Records Statement Via Video Conferencing In 17-Year-Old Defamation Case; Final Arguments On August 24

Kalyan, August 6, 2026: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday recorded his statement through video conferencing before a Kalyan court in a 17-year-old criminal defamation case arising out of the 2009 Lok Sabha election campaign. With the examination of all the accused now complete, the court has scheduled final arguments for August 24, after which the matter is expected to proceed to judgment.

Case Dates Back To 2009

The case dates back to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, when a video compact disc (CD) allegedly containing defamatory material relating to Vasant Davkhare, then the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate from Kalyan, was played during a public meeting held in the Kolsewadi area.

Claiming that the contents of the CD had tarnished his reputation, Davkhare subsequently filed a criminal defamation complaint before the Kalyan court against four accused: then Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, then Shiv Sena leader and present Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the party's then Lok Sabha candidate Anand Paranjpe, and rally organiser Ramakant Deolekar.

Although Vasant Davkhare passed away during the pendency of the proceedings, the criminal case continued before the Kalyan court in accordance with law.

Statements Of Accused Recorded

The matter has now reached its final stage. On August 5, Uddhav Thackeray, who is currently the president of Shiv Sena (UBT), recorded his statement through video conferencing. On Thursday, August 6, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also appeared before the court virtually and submitted his statement through the same mode.

The remaining accused, Anand Paranjpe and Ramakant Deolekar, appeared in person before the Kalyan court, where their statements were recorded. During the proceedings, Judicial Magistrate Santosh Agre reportedly put 32 questions to the accused as part of the examination process before recording their responses.

Final Arguments On August 24

According to the defence, all the accused denied the allegations and maintained that the complaint had been filed with a political motive. In his statement, Shinde contended that the prosecution was initiated because they were political opponents of the complainant and asserted that the allegations were false.

Speaking after the hearing, Advocate Ashok Jagdale, counsel representing Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said the court has fixed August 24 for final arguments. Once both sides conclude their submissions, the court is expected to reserve the matter for judgment before delivering its verdict.

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With the recording of the statements of all four accused now complete, the long-pending defamation case, which has remained before the court for nearly 17 years, has entered its concluding phase.

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