The incident occurred when Ganpat Gaikwad allegedly shot and injured Mahesh Gaikwad, a leader of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), inside a police station over a land dispute. The MLA has been charged with attempted murder and other offenses.
The Thane Police initiated the case after a complaint was filed by a resident of Dwarli village, who claimed to have faced caste-based abuse by Ganpat Gaikwad and
others on January 31.
The political rivalry between Ganpat Gaikwad and Mahesh Gaikwad, despite both being part of the ruling parties in the Eknath Shinde-led 'Mahayuti' government, was well-known in the Kalyan and Thane region. The incident took place inside the cabin of the Senior Inspector of Ulhasnagar’s Hill Line police station.
Ganpat Gaikwad defended his actions, stating that he shot Mahesh Gaikwad as his son was allegedly being mistreated at the police station. He accused CM Eknath Shinde of attempting to establish a "kingdom of criminals" in Maharashtra.
The shocking act led to an order for a probe by State Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and the Ulhasnagar Magistrate court remanded Ganpat Gaikwad and his two accomplices in police custody until February 14.
Former CM Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray, from the rival Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, criticized the Shinde government, referring to the incident as "a gang war going on within the Maharashtra government." Uddhav Thackeray stated that Ganpat Gaikwad was allegedly attempting to seize land opposed by local women, leading to the shooting of Mahesh Gaikwad, who supported these women.