Uddhav Refused To Transfer Palghar Sadhus Lynching Probe To CBI 'Under Pressure From Rahul Gandhi', Alleges Eknath Shinde-Led Shiv Sena

In a recent revelation, the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, has brought forward allegations against the former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray regarding the Palghar mob lynching case of April 2020.

As reported by Deccan Herald, Thackeray obstructed the transfer of the case to the CBI under pressure from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

The victims, two Sadhus from the Shri Panch Dashnam Juna Akhara in Varanasi, along with their driver, were lynched in Gadchinchale village, Palghar district.

Initially handled by the Kasa police station, the case was later handed over to the State-CID.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena spokesperson Kiran Pawaskar asserted that Thackeray's administration displayed reluctance in transferring the case to the CBI.

“The murder was committed while Thackeray was sleeping, and the (then) Home Minister (Anil Deshmukh) was busy collecting money, leading to suspicions that the sadhus were murdered at the behest of the Maharashtra government. At that time, Thackeray had given a tepid response and had kept the investigation machinery idle. The government’s reluctance to hand over the Sadhu murder case to the CBI prevented a timely investigation,” he said.

“It was because of the Thackeray-led (Maha Vikas Aghadi) government's inaction that the Akhara leaders demanded the transfer of the case to the CBI. However, Thackeray's administration opposed transferring the case to the CBI,” he added.

“There's evidence suggesting that under pressure from Gandhi, Thackeray agreed not to transfer the case to the CBI,” said Pawaskar, DH reported.

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