Calling the act “shocking” and “unacceptable in a civilised society”, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) rejected the bail plea of former BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, accused of opening fire on Shiv Sena leader Mahesh Gaikwad inside a police station last year.
Justice Amit Borkar, while refusing bail, underscored the gravity of the incident and observed, “The allegations against the applicant are of extremely grave and disturbing nature. It is the specific case of the prosecution that the applicant, who is a former elected representative (MLA), brazenly entered the cabin of the Senior Police Inspector at Hill Line Police Station, armed with a loaded revolver. It is alleged that he opened fire and discharged two rounds of bullets upon the injured Mahesh Gaikwad, with the clear intention of causing his death. It is further alleged that he also aimed and fired at another person present, Rahul Patil, thereby attempting to cause him fatal injuries as well.”
Ganpat Gaikwad, a former MLA from the Kalyan (East) constituency, filed a regular bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), in connection with a case registered at Hill Line Police Station, Ulhasnagar. He is accused of offences under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 143, 147, 148, 149 (unlawful assembly and rioting), 109 (abetment), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, along with Section 30 of the Arms Act.
