Workers of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's camp clashed with each other in Mumbai in the early hours of Sanday over serving water during a Ganpati visarjan procession. The face-off took place when a Supreme Court bench was hearing the battle between Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on claim over the party.
The police had registered an FIR against the Thackeray faction Sainiks based on the complaint by Shinde camp functionaries. The police had arrested five persons including the Thackeray faction functionary Mahesh Sawant for unlawful assembly, rioting, assault and dacoity in the same incident. All five were later granted bail from the police station. Thereafter, the police registered an FIR for rioting and assault against Shinde camp workers based on a complaint filed by the Thackeray faction.
The incident took place around 12.30 am in the New Prabhadevi area in which Shinde camp functionary Santosh Talavane was allegedly attacked by Thackeray faction Sainik Mahesh Sawant and 30 others, police said. Thackeray faction claimed the use of power by the Shinde camp against it.
Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant, who along with the leader of opposition in the state council Ambadas Danve, former minister Anil Parab, and legislator Sunil Shinde visited the police station, demanded action against Shinde camp legislator Sada Sarvankar under the Arms act for allegedly firing in public at the clash spot. After meeting officials at Dadar police station following the arrest of workers of the Thackeray faction, he said if those arrested are not released and action is not against Sarvankar, his party will take to the streets and people will know which is the "real Shiv Sena ''.
Sawant alleged that Sarvankar verbally abused the Thackeray faction and fired twice in public. Danve said that one-sided action by police cannot be tolerated. ‘’If both sides are at fault, action should be taken against both,’’ he added.
On his part, Sarvankar claimed that he was targeted for joining the Shinde camp. ‘’I have a revolver's license. However, I have not fired any rounds. I have been defamed as I have joined the Shinde camp,’’ he said.
The Shinde camp spokesman Kiran Pawaskar also denied that Sarwankar fired rounds from his revolver in public. ‘’Sarvankr has Y category security and it is impossible that he will fire in public,’’ he said while terming the Thackeray faction’s allegation childish.
The police said that the firing incident has not been verified yet and so they did not name Sarvankar in the FIR.
Meanwhile, Sawant and others after their release along with Shiv Sainiks from Dadar, Prabhadevi and Mahim met Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree's residence. Yuva Sena chief and former minister Aaditya Thackeray, who was also present, in a tweet released a photo with the caption ‘’This is today’s photo with Shiv Sena’s tigers.’’
