Kalyan Police Act After Heated Dispute Over Incense Burning Escalates to Violence
KALYAN: Akhilesh Shukla, an officer with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), and two of his associates were arrested on Friday, December 20, 2024, after allegedly assaulting their Marathi neighbors, the Deshmukhs, following a dispute over incense burning in their building’s corridor.
The incident occurred at Ajmera Heights in Kalyan, where MTDC officer Shukla’s wife lit incense in a common corridor, triggering a heated argument with the Deshmukhs, who objected to the practice. The Deshmukhs claim that Shukla and his wife made derogatory comments about Marathi people and their dietary habits, including remarks on their preference for non-vegetarian food.
Dheeraj Deshmukh, one of the victims, recounted the incident to The Times of India, saying that after confronting Shukla and his wife, the argument escalated. Later, 8 to 10 individuals arrived at their door, dragged him outside, and began assaulting him. Deshmukh’s brother, Abhijit, also sustained head injuries during the attack.
The situation took a more alarming turn when Shukla allegedly pulled out a revolver, further escalating the violence. Deshmukh added that Shukla had previously intimidated other residents, claiming connections with the government and using an official blue beacon on his car.
The Deshmukhs attempted to file a complaint with the local police, but initially, they were met with reluctance. This led them to take the matter to social media, which quickly gained traction, drawing attention from political parties. Workers from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena protested, demanding swift action against Shukla and his associates. They also called for accountability from the police officers who initially delayed registering the Deshmukhs’ complaint.
In response, Kalyan police formed a special team under ACP Kalyanji Ghete to investigate the matter. DCP Atul Zende stated that authorities are probing the legitimacy of Shukla’s use of a blue beacon on his vehicle. Police have also seized CCTV footage from the building to support their investigation.
Meanwhile, a cross-complaint was filed against the Deshmukhs, accusing them of assault during the confrontation.
This news report is curated with insights from multiple reliable news sources.
