States » WestPosted at: Oct 1 2026 6:42PM


Uddhav Thackeray consoles family of his murdered Thane Shiv Sena loyalist

Mumbai, Oct 1 (UNI) Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray reached the residence of his murdered loyalist Pradeep ‘Balu’ Purnekar in the Manpada area of Thane and spoke to his grieving family members on Thursday late afternoon. Purnekar was shot and stabbed to death in his office, on Tuesday night.
Uddhav-led Sena Thane divisional head Pradeep ‘Balu’ Purnekar was one of the few Shiv Sainiks in Thane who remained with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena even when most Shiv Sena men in Thane defected from their original party to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which dominates Thane.
Despite the domination of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Thane belt, Pradeep ‘Balu’ Purnekar was successful in ensuring that Manpada, Manorama Nagar and Azad Nagar areas in Thane, remained an Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena stronghold.
Uddhav Thackeray went to his murdered loyalist Pradeep ‘Balu’ Purnekar's house and advised his family members including Purnekar's son and brother to remain calm.
“Whatever you do at the moment, do it with a calm head. Do not take any steps emotionally. We will be with you till the end,” Uddhav Thackeray assured Purnekar's family members.
Pradeep ‘Balu’ Purnekar's wife Vijeta Purnekar, son Ram Purnekar and daughter got emotional while speaking to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
“Pradeep always wanted Uddhav Thackeray to visit his house at least once. If Pradeep was alive, he would have surely been very happy to see you come here today,” his wife Vijeta Purnekar told Uddhav Thackeray.
The Purnekar family demanded that the entire investigation should be carried out under the supervision of the court and that the case must be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
“Yesterday, the police were not even ready to write the names of (Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena) leaders Minakshi Shinde and Rajendra Shinde in the FIR. Only because Sanjay Raut came, did the police finally include their names in the FIR,” Vijeta Purnekar told Uddhav Thackeray.
“Both my brother and uncle almost won the Thane Municipal Corporation elections. However, later something changed at the last moment and both of them got defeated. Eknath Shinde had done everything possible to defeat us,” Vijeta Purnekar told Uddhav Thackeray.
Pradeep ‘Balu’ Purnekar’s brother Jaynath Purnekar who is also with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, was defeated by a mere 158 votes in the Thane Municipal Corporation elections.
Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray reached Thane, entered the Kapurbawdi police station and demanded that the names of all suspects allegedly involved in the murder of Pradeep Purnekar who was murdered on Tuesday night, must be included in the police first information report (FIR).
Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut demanded that the police officers must mention the names of Thane-based Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leaders Meenakshi Shinde and Rajendra Shinde in the police FIR. They also alleged that Eknath Shinde-led Sena leaders Meenakshi Shinde and Rajendra Shinde are being protected by the police.
When the Kapurbawdi police station officials did not show any inclination to include the names of Eknath Shinde-led Sena leaders Meenakshi Shinde and Rajendra Shinde in the FIR, Samjay Raut warned the police officials, “Will you register a case against Minakshi Shinde and include it the FIR or should I take the entire mob gathered outside and reach Minakshi Shinde's house?”
Finally, the Kapurbawdi police officials included names of Minakshi Shinde and Rajendra Shinde in a supplementary FIR, after which both Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut left the spot.
Speaking to the media, Sanjay Raut said, “The police is investigating the case. The Commissioner is an experienced police officer. We have been watching his work for several years. He said that no matter how big the accused may be, he will not escape. We believe the Commissioner”.
It was only after Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Meenakshi Shinde's name was included in the supplementary FIR, did Purnekar's family agree to cremate Pradeep Purnekar's body at the Manpada electric crematorium.
UNI BA RN
Tags: #Uddhav Thackeray consoles family of his murdered Thane Shiv Sena loyalist
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