Days after his re-induction, CM Shinde removes Gauri Lankesh murder accused from Shiv Sena

However, an order issued by the Shiv Sena on Sunday said, “All orders issued at the (district level) by the party in Jalna stand null and void.”

When asked why Pangarkar’s induction was cancelled, a Sena leader, who did not wish to be named, said, “The decision to appoint a leader in the party is taken only after consultation with Shinde ji and other senior office-bearers… However, it seems that the appointment was done locally at the district level without consulting senior leaders of the party and Shinde ji. Hence the cancellation was ordered.”

Speaking to The Indian Express over phone Sunday, Pangarkar said, “I was always with the Shiv Sena and I never quit Shiv Sena. I was associated with the party since 1996 and was Shakha Pramukh then. I was appointed as a Vibhag Pramukh and later on I was Shiv Sena corporator for two terms from 2001 to 2011. I never resigned from the party. In 2014 and later too I was handling the same role which I have got now.”

“If you read the bail order or even the chargesheet, you will find that there is no evidence against me. All the allegations are wrong and false. I was implicated owing to political rivalry. I lost six years of my life due to it. I am not a criminal and I have no role in both the cases (Gauri Lankesh murder and Nallasopara arms haul) . If you check my background you will find that there is not a single criminal case against me… I have always been active only in politics,” he said.

Pangarkar, who was arrested in August 2018 in the Lankesh case, was granted bail by the Karnataka High Court on September 4. He is also an accused in the 2018 Nalasopara arms haul case, in which he was granted bail earlier. Both cases are under trial.

Lankesh was shot dead outside her residence in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017. A Karnataka police SIT arrested 17 people linked to Sanatan Sanstha and other outfits for the murder. Eleven of the 17 accused have been granted bail.