Paint Thrown At Statue Of Bal Thackeray's Wife Meenatai, 1 Arrested: Police
The statue of late Meenatai Thackeray, the wife of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, at Shivaji Park here was defaced with oil paint, leading to the arrest of a man on Wednesday evening who was identified through CCTV cameras.
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Police formed eight teams to track down those responsible for the vandalism, officials confirmed (File)
Mumbai:
The statue of Meenatai Thackeray, wife of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, was vandalized with red oil paint at Shivaji Park, resulting in one arrest on Wednesday evening after the suspect was identified through CCTV footage.
Authorities have named the accused as Upendra Pawaskar and are currently conducting interrogations, an official stated.
The vandalism was discovered around 6:30 am when a passerby noticed red oil paint splashed on the bust and its pedestal. The news quickly spread, prompting Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) workers to rush to the scene and clean the monument before alerting police, according to officials.
Authorities established eight investigative teams to identify those responsible and are analyzing footage from surveillance cameras installed throughout the Shivaji Park area.
Police have filed an FIR against unknown persons under section 298 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) at Shivaji Park police station, which addresses deliberate defiling of places of worship with intent to insult religious sentiments.
As tensions rose among Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS supporters, both Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj Thackeray visited the site separately earlier in the day.
Uddhav condemned the act, suggesting it was intended to create unrest in Maharashtra. He remarked that such actions might be committed by someone "shy to take the name of their parents," while urging party workers to remain calm.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also denounced the incident.
"Police will identify the anti-social elements involved and take appropriate action. There's no need to politicize this incident," stated Fadnavis, who oversees the Home portfolio.
Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde assured that the perpetrators would face strict consequences.
"I have spoken with the police commissioner, and the Chief Minister is personally monitoring the situation," Shinde said.
Shiv Sena's Minister of State for Home, Yogesh Kadam, emphasized that the desecration was an emotional issue for all Shiv Sainiks.
State minister Shamburaj Desai from Shiv Sena noted that 'Maasaheb' is deeply revered by party supporters.
Sena (UBT) leader and Mumbai South Central MP Anil Desai claimed the incident highlighted the state government's failure to maintain law and order.
Local Sena (UBT) MLA Mahesh Sawant suggested political motivations behind the vandalism.
He connected the incident to Sena (UBT)'s recent 'sindoor' protest against the India-Pakistan cricket match in the Asia Cup on September 14, implying it occurred as retaliation following their rally, though he refrained from directly naming anyone.