Former corporator, her relatives arrested for murder of MNS office-bearer over withdrawal of nomination in Solapur

Kolhapur: A former corporator of the Solapur Municipal Corporation is among five people, including her sons, arrested for allegedly murdering an MNS office-bearer on Friday in Solapur city over an altercation linked to the withdrawal of nomination filed by the office-bearer's sister-in-law.Solapur police commissioner M Rajkumar told TOI, "We have arrested five people, including the former corporator. A total of 15 people have been booked. We have also secured the murder weapons used. The doctors at the civil hospital had declared Balasaheb Saravade dead when he was taken to the hospital."Balasaheb Saravade (36), the city president of MNS students' wing, died after he was stabbed multiple times, the police said. Saravade's heart was punctured on being stabbed in the chest, and this caused his death, the police added. Balasaheb Saravade's brother, Bajirao, also suffered injuries and told the police about the events that led to the murder.The police said the arrested people include former corporator Shalan Shinde and her sons and family members Rahul, Tanaji, Atish, and Amar Shinde. Her husband, however, is among others who are absconding. They have been booked under BNS sections 103 (murder), 109 (attempt to murder), 189, 190, 352, and 351. While Shalan Shinde has been remanded in two-day police custody, the others have got a four-day police remand.According to the complainant, Saravade's sister-in-law, Rekha, had filed a nomination hoping to get a ticket from BJP; however, the party gave the ticket to Shalan Shinde, a former corporator residing in the same neighbourhood as the Saravades. The complainant alleged that Shalan Shinde, her husband, and her sons threatened to harm the Saravade family if Rekha's nomination was not withdrawn. Eventually, to avoid frequent brawls in future, Rekha withdrew her nomination.The police said that on Friday, Balasaheb Saravade and two others went to Shinde's house, where Shinde's son taunted them for withdrawing and told them not to cross his path again. An altercation broke out around 5 pm and lasted for five minutes, after which Shalan Shinde's husband and sons came with swords and a machete. Shalan Shinde threw chilli powder into Balasaheb Saravade's eyes, and then her family members attacked him, the police said, citing the complaint.TOI reached out to election officials, and according to them, Shalan Shinde has not been elected unopposed, as there are other candidates in the fray from the ward.Meanwhile, Balasaheb Saravade was cremated on Saturday afternoon, and the police heightened security in the Joshi Galli area of Solapur city. Amit Thackeray, MNS politician and party chief Raj Thackeray's son, will visit Solapur and meet the deceased office-bearer's relatives on Sunday.Politicians accused BJP's prominent functionaries of coaxing and forcing Rekha Saravade to withdraw, and emboldening the Shindes. This, they said, eventually led to the murder. They, led by Congress MP Praniti Shinde and former MLA and left leader Narsayya Adam, met police commissioner M Rajkumar, who said that the investigation is in its preliminary stages and all past events will be dug up and collated to find if there are any other links.The politicians also claimed that the son of a prominent BJP functionary is contesting from the same ward, and the BJP functionary wanted to ensure the victory of all his party candidates unopposed in Ward 2.