Anil Deshmukh claimed that his car was attacked near Katol while he was returning after addressing an election rally in Narkhed in the Katol Assembly constituency, where his son Salil was contesting. (Source: File)
The Nagpur rural police have closed the investigation into the alleged 2024 incident where NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh said that he was injured after being attacked with stones while returning from an election rally in Nagpur, by filing a ‘B Final’ report on Tuesday.
A B-Final or B-Summary report is where the police find that the complaint is “maliciously false” and that the complainant has lied about charges against an accused. According to sources, the police have also approached the court, seeking permission to prosecute Deshmukh.
However, Deshmukh denied the allegation, claiming that the police were under pressure.
The alleged incident took place in November last year. Deshmukh claimed that his car was attacked near Katol while he was returning after addressing an election rally in Narkhed in the Katol Assembly constituency, where his son Salil was contesting.
According to a source in the rural police, the forensic analysis allegedly confirmed three key points:
First, the vehicle’s window could not have been smashed with a one blow from a stone if it were made of reinforced glass. In this case, the police said, it was.
Second, if any person seated in Deshmukh’s seat had been injured, it would have been due to the broken glass. However, according to Deshmukh’s medical report, his injury was hard and blunt. Glass causes a sharp injury, the source said.
Third, the source said, Deshmukh was seated on the front seat of the vehicle, but it was the back window that was broken. So the forensic report establishes that a rock coming from the back could have either landed on the middle seat or on the back seat because the vehicle had three sets of seats, front, middle, and back.
The police further pointed out that there were no eyewitnesses to the incident, as it occurred at an isolated, uninhabited location. The police also informed that there were no CCTV cameras in the area.
‘Attempt to give political colour’
Responding to the development, Deshmukh told the media on Wednesday, “Right from the beginning, there has been an attempt to give this incident a political colour. One of the ministers, Parinay Fuke, at that time immediately told the media that the Superintendent of Police (SP) would clarify the incident. Even before the inquiry took place, 10 months ago, the SP also mentioned the incident, without waiting for the forensic report, due to political pressure.”
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At that time, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also said, ‘This is a Salim-Javed story (implying it’s a fabricated or dramatic tale),” Deshmukh said.
“After two people threw stones, those two men should have been apprehended. But instead of doing that, a ‘B final’ report has been submitted to give it a political colour,” Deshmukh added.
“In this matter, now that the forensic report has come, we will take appropriate action going forward based on that report. I have seen the forensic report; it clearly states that two individuals pelted stones at Anil Deshmukh’s vehicle, one with a small stone and one with a large stone. The large one was approximately 10 kg. Because there was a turn, the car was traveling at a speed of 5 (km/h), which caused the damage. And the report states that the glass of the vehicle shattered, causing an injury to Anil Deshmukh’s head,” Deshmukh pointed out.
Instead of filing a ‘B final’ report, the police should have filed an ‘A summary’ report, stating that the accused were not found, rather than dismissing the incident as fabricated, he added.
Ankita Deshkar is a Deputy Copy Editor and a dedicated fact-checker at The Indian Express. Based in Maharashtra, she specializes in bridging the gap between technical complexity and public understanding. With a deep focus on Cyber Law, Information Technology, and Public Safety, she leads "The Safe Side" series, where she deconstructs emerging digital threats and financial scams. Ankita is also a certified trainer for the Google News Initiative (GNI) India Training Network, specializing in online verification and the fight against misinformation. She is also an AI trainer with ADiRA (AI for Digital Readiness and Advancement)
Professional Background & Expertise
Role: Fact-checker & Deputy Copy Editor, The Indian Express
Experience: Started working in 2016
Ankita brings a unique multidisciplinary background to her journalism, combining engineering logic with mass communication expertise. Her work often intersects regional governance, wildlife conservation, and digital rights, making her a leading voice on issues affecting Central India, particularly the Vidarbha region.
Key focus areas include:
Fact-Checking & Verification: As a GNI-certified trainer, she conducts workshops on debunking deepfakes, verifying viral claims, and using OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tools.
Cyber Law & IT: With postgraduate specialization in Cyber Law, she decodes the legalities of data privacy, digital fraud, and the evolving landscape of intellectual property rights.
Public Safety & Health: Through her "The Safe Side" column, she provides actionable intelligence on avoiding "juice jacking," "e-SIM scams," and digital extortion.
Regional Reporting: She provides on-ground coverage of high-stakes issues in Maharashtra, from Maoist surrenders in Gadchiroli to critical healthcare updates and wildlife-human conflict in Nagpur.
Education & Credentials
Ankita is currently pursuing her PhD in Mass Communication and Journalism, focusing on the non-verbal communication through Indian classical dance forms. Her academic foundation includes:
MA in Mass Communication (RTM Nagpur University)
Bachelors in Electrical Engineering (RTM Nagpur University)
Post Graduate Diploma (PGTD) in Cyber Law and Information Technology
Specialization in Intellectual Property Rights
Recent Notable Coverage
Ankita’s reportage is recognized for its investigative depth and emphasis on accountability:
Cyber Security: "Lost money to a scam? Act within the 'golden hour' or risk losing it all" — A deep dive into the critical window for freezing fraudulent transactions.
Public Health: "From deep coma to recovery: First fully recovered Coldrif patient discharged" — Investigating the aftermath of pharmaceutical toxins and the healthcare response.
Governance & Conflict: "Gadchiroli now looks like any normal city: SP Neelotpal" — An analysis of the socio-political shift in Maoist-affected regions.
Signature Beat
Ankita is best known for her ability to translate "technical jargon into human stories." Whether she is explaining how AI tools like MahaCrimeOS assist the police or exposing the dire conditions of wildlife transit centres, her writing serves as a bridge between specialized knowledge and everyday safety.
Contact & Follow
X (Twitter): @ankita_deshkar
Email: ankita.deshkar@indianexpress.com
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