In a blistering rebuke of privilege misused and laws defied, the Bombay High Court has denied bail to former BJP MLA Ganpat Kalu Gaikwad, accused of attempting to murder a rival politician inside a police station—an incident that has left the judicial conscience rattled.
The courtroom wasn’t just examining a bail plea; it was confronting a brazen act of violence that took place at the Hill Line Police Station in Ulhasnagar on February 2, 2024. There, as per the prosecution’s version, Gaikwad—no stranger to power, having been elected thrice from Kalyan (East)—allegedly pulled out a revolver and shot at former Shiv Sena corporator Mahesh Gaikwad in the middle of a political clash. Not stopping there, he reportedly sat on the bleeding man’s chest and pummelled him with the butt of the weapon.
Justice Amit Borkar, unmoved by pleas for leniency, made it clear that the rule of law must not tremble before political muscle.
“This isn’t just about one act of violence—it’s about the rot it could signal,” the court warned, underlining that letting the accused walk free at this early stage of trial would convey that political power can bend justice, even inside the supposedly secure walls of a police station.
The judge didn’t stop at strong words. He pointed out that the available evidence, including CCTV footage, ballistic reports, and even an alleged audio recording where Gaikwad expresses intent to kill, painted a picture far more calculated than spontaneous.
The defense, however, attempted to soften the blow. Gaikwad’s counsel argued it was a crime of passion—that the violence erupted only after he saw his son being assaulted outside the police station. The claim: the incident was not pre-planned and, at most, warranted charges under Section 308 of the IPC, not attempted murder. Also cited—17 months already spent in custody.
But the prosecution countered with a wall of hard facts: matching bullets, forensic science, and the real risk of witness tampering, especially given Gaikwad’s considerable sway in local politics.
The Court was firm. “Allowing this kind of brutality in a space meant for safety would shake public trust in law enforcement itself,” Justice Borkar noted.
Gaikwad will remain behind bars. The bail plea, for now, ends where the bullets allegedly flew—inside a police station, beneath the weight of a shattered public trust.
Key Legal Representation:
- For Ganpat Gaikwad: Senior Advocate Kevic Setalvad, instructed by Rahul Arote
- For Victim Mahesh Gaikwad: Advocates Abhishek Kulkarni and Sagar Wakale
- For the State: Special Public Prosecutor Ashish Chavan, joined by Mayur Mohite and Megha Bajoria
