The BJP Infighting in Thane has escalated into a police matter after party worker Mahesh More alleged that BJP corporators Sunesh Joshi and Mrunal Pendse arrived with several individuals, including persons he claimed had criminal antecedents, during an attempted eviction outside a private property on Ram Maruti Road. More alleged that his driver was assaulted during the confrontation, leading to the registration of an FIR at Naupada Police Station.

He linked the dispute to political differences arising from the recent civic election campaign. Sunesh Joshi denied bringing criminals to the location and rejected allegations of involvement in the assault, stating he had visited the site after complaints about alleged illegal hawkers. Mrunal Pendse had not responded to queries at the time of publication. The allegations remain subject to police investigation, and no court has made any findings regarding the claims.

Thane BJP Infighting: Party Worker Mahesh More Alleges Corporators Arrived with Known Criminals During Eviction Bid; FIR Registered

A political dispute within the BJP in Thane has escalated into a police matter after party worker Mahesh More alleged that two BJP corporators arrived with individuals having criminal backgrounds during an attempted eviction. An FIR has been registered following an alleged assault on More’s driver.

The Thane BJP infighting has intensified after party worker Mahesh More alleged that two BJP corporators, accompanied by several individuals with criminal antecedents, attempted to evict him from outside a private property on Ram Maruti Road. The confrontation allegedly resulted in an assault on More’s driver, leading to the registration of an FIR at Naupada Police Station.

The incident, which allegedly occurred on the evening of June 17, has drawn attention to internal divisions within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that reportedly began during the recent civic election campaign. The dispute now carries both political and legal dimensions after the rival factions publicly exchanged allegations.

According to Mahesh More, BJP corporators Sunesh Joshi and Mrunal Pendse arrived at the location along with several persons whom he identified as individuals with criminal records. More alleged that the group attempted to remove him from the steps of a private building where he had been operating.

More stated that he had become a vocal critic of both corporators during the civic election campaign after circulating a booklet questioning their functioning during their previous tenure as corporators.

Mahesh More Links Dispute to the Earlier Civic Election Campaign

According to More, the booklet alleged that civic contracts in their predominantly Hindu electoral ward had been awarded to firms owned by non-resident Muslims instead of local residents. He maintained that his criticism related to the awarding of contracts to outsiders and not to the religious identity of the contractors.

Further claimed that civic authorities had previously refrained from taking action against him because he possessed a valid Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) hawking licence and was conducting business from private property.

During the confrontation, More alleged that members of the accompanying group assaulted his driver. Following the incident, an FIR was registered at Naupada Police Station. Details of the offences invoked and identities of all accused named in the FIR have not yet been officially disclosed by the police.

Calling the episode a planned attack, More said the Ram Maruti Road incident was a “pre-planned conspiracy” intended to provoke him. He alleged that the attempt failed because he deliberately chose not to react to the confrontation.

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Individuals Named by Mahesh More and Responses from BJP Leaders

More identified several individuals whom he claimed were present during the incident. These included Rahul Palande of Rabodi, whom More alleged faces multiple criminal cases, including attempt-to-murder charges and assault-related offences.

He also named Ganesh Sonar of Phul Gali Market and Santosh Omale, alleging that both had previously been booked in grievous assault cases. Additionally, More identified Aniket Shinde, Rushikesh Waikar, Aniket Khilje, Rahul Wankhede, Sagar Salaskar, Chetan Ingle, and Akash Shinde as members of the group present during the confrontation.

These allegations are those of Mahesh More and have not been independently verified by Sprouts News. The criminal antecedents referred to by More have not been adjudicated in connection with this incident.

Corporator Sunesh Joshi denied bringing any criminals to the location. He stated that he had reached the site after receiving complaints about alleged illegal hawkers inconveniencing local residents. Joshi also denied any involvement in the alleged assault on More’s driver.

Responding to questions regarding why action appeared focused on More while other allegedly unauthorised structures remained untouched, Joshi said any action concerning unauthorised structures falls within the jurisdiction of the Thane Municipal Corporation.

Corporator Mrunal Pendse did not respond to queries seeking his version before publication.

Social Media Video, Political Allegations, and What Lies Ahead

A video circulated by Mahesh More on social media allegedly shows Sunesh Joshi concentrating on More’s stall while directing civic officials to remove goods placed on the steps of the private building. Joshi denied that the action was connected to the booklet distributed during the civic election campaign.

Clarifying his earlier allegations, More said his criticism was based on civic contracts allegedly being awarded to non-local contractors rather than local residents. He further stated that, in his opinion, such decisions were inconsistent with expectations in a ward where leaders were elected on a Hindutva platform.

The incident has highlighted continuing factional tensions within the BJP’s Thane unit while raising broader questions regarding political rivalry, civic enforcement, and the alleged presence of persons with criminal backgrounds during local disputes.

Police investigation into the FIR is expected to determine the sequence of events, examine available video footage, record witness statements, and establish whether any criminal offences were committed by those present during the confrontation. Further official statements from investigating authorities are awaited.

Readers’ Appeal

If you witnessed the incident or possess verified information, contact investigative journalist Unmesh Gujarathi and Sprouts News. Your identity will remain confidential.