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Thane Shiv Sainik Murder: Sanjay Raut Alleges Builder Lobby, Drug Network Involvement
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News18•30-09-2026, 12:10
Thane Shiv Sainik Murder: Sanjay Raut Alleges Builder Lobby, Drug Network Involvement
- •Pradeep Purnekar, a staunch Shiv Sainik and divisional head of Manpada, was shot dead in Thane.
- •Police have arrested two of five suspects; initial belief points to an old dispute as the motive.
- •Purnekar's family has made serious allegations against Thane's former mayor Meenakshi Shinde and her husband.
- •Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut demanded an inquiry, linking the murder to the builder lobby and drug network.
- •Raut stated Thane has become a haven for criminals and drug mafias, blaming the Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Key Questions Answered
Pradeep Purnekar was a staunch Shiv Sena (UBT) divisional head in Thane who was shot dead and attacked with sharp weapons by unidentified assailants at his office.
The family of Pradeep Purnekar, including his son Ram, accused former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde and her husband of orchestrating the killing, alleging a prior secret meeting between the suspects and threats made against him.
Police registered a case following the attack and took multiple suspects, including Pappya Shinde and Akash Nimse, into custody for questioning while deploying nine teams to trace remaining culprits.
