The Thane police, spurred into action following a viral social media post of a 26-year-old woman allegedly injured by the son of a Maharashtra bureaucrat, on Saturday seized the SUV that was used to injure the woman. Police further claimed they had summoned the three accused to the police station on Friday, however they did not appear. The 26-year-old woman alleged Ashwajit Gaikwad, the son of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) MD Anilkumar Gaikwad, assaulted her and injured her with his SUV in Thane on December 11 when she went to meet him at a hotel near Ghodbunder Road. Later, the Kasarvadavli police station filed a case in the matter, however no arrests have been made. Talking to the media from hospital, the woman, Priya Singh, a beautician and model, said she was in a relationship with Ashwajit Gaikwad. “When I came to know (that he was married), he told me they (his wife and him) were not together anymore, they had separated. He said that he wanted to marry me. I had been staying with him for a long time." "When I went to meet him Monday night, he was with his wife. I was in shock when I went to talk to him, he got aggressive. We had a fight," Priya said. "Three bones in my right leg are broken, it has been operated on. From my left shoulder to my hips I've deep injuries. I cannot move my body." The victim's lawyer, Darshana Pawar, told the media they requested the investigating officers and police officers to charge the accused under the IPC section related to attempt to murder, but the police didn't do it. She said they will approach the Bombay High Court if the police do not add the section. Later in the day, the issue turned political after opposition leaders pointed out Gaikwad was leader of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. Atul Londhe, chief spokesperson, Maharashtra Congress said, “The accused is Ashwajit Gaikwad, who is the leader of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and son of Anil Gaikwad, a senior officer of MSRDC. Ashwajit has not been arrested as his father is a high ranking official in the administration.” Londhe said although a case has been registered in the incident, the culprit is yet to be arrested. "There is something dubious about this case and it raises suspicions. It is said that Devendra Fadnavis is a very efficient and capable leader, but when a serious incident like this occurs, that too in a city like Thane, it poses a question mark on his competence and efficiency as a home minister," said Londhe. In her statement to the police, Priya said after she met Ashwajit outside a hotel in Thane, they had an argument following which Ashwajit assaulted her. She alleged when she went to get her bag from his car, Ashwajit, his friend Romil Patil and driver Sagar Shelke drove off, which led to her getting injured on her leg. An officer said Ashwajit denied he was involved in the incident and told police she was trying to extort money from him. An FIR was registered under sections 279 (rash driving), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 338 (causing grievous hurt), 504 (insulting someone intentionally to provoke them) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC.
