Mumbai Police Initiates Action In Vidhan Bhavan Assault Case; 2 Arrested After Video Of BJP, NCP (SP) Supporters' Ruckus Goes Viral
Mumbai: In connection with the assault incident that occurred inside Vidhan Bhavan, Marine Drive Police have registered a case and arrested two individuals late at night.
According to the police, Nitin Deshmukh and Rishikesh Takale were taken into custody in connection with the altercation. Both were subjected to a medical examination the same night. Further investigation into the matter is underway.
BJP, NCP (SP) Supporters Clash Inside Maharashtra Assembly
Supporters of BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Jitendra Awhad clashed inside the premises of Maharashtra’s Vidhan Bhavan on Thursday. The confrontation occurred in the ground-floor lobby of the state legislature, sparking political outrage and raising serious concerns over security within one of Maharashtra’s most important institutions.
According to sources, the clash began with a verbal spat that escalated into physical aggression, forcing security personnel to intervene. One individual from each camp was detained at the scene. Videos of the scuffle quickly went viral on social media, drawing public attention and criticism over the collapse of decorum within the legislative complex.
Jitendra Awhad-Gopichand Padalkar Clash
The altercation came a day after a heated exchange between the two MLAs outside Vidhan Bhavan. On Wednesday, Awhad accused Padalkar of deliberately slamming a car door into him while exiting the vehicle, leading to a tense argument. That confrontation, too, was caught on video and widely shared online. Padalkar had remained silent on the matter until Thursday’s incident.
CM Fadnavis Orders Stern Action
Reacting strongly to the violence, Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “Fighting within Vidhan Bhavan is absolutely unacceptable. This is an institution governed by the Assembly Speaker and the Council Chairperson. I have asked them to take strict action. Such behaviour damages the dignity of our democratic institutions.”
Jitendra Awhad, speaking to reporters after the incident, voiced grave concern about his safety. “If elected representatives aren’t safe even inside Vidhan Bhavan, what message are we sending? I was simply stepping out for some air when their people tried to attack me,” he claimed.
Earlier in the day, Awhad had posted on X (formerly Twitter) alleging that he had received threats from Padalkar’s supporters and feared for his life. The messages reportedly warned him not to 'mess with Gopi Saheb,' believed to be a reference to Gopichand Padalkar and threatened to either shoot him or run him over.
Gopichand Padalkar, when approached for comment, distanced himself from the episode. “I don’t know anything about what happened. You can ask him (Awhad); he’s inside. I don’t even know the people involved,” he told the media.
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