'Find the accused within 24 hours': Raj Thackeray demands probe after Meenatai Thackeray bust defaced

On Prabodhankar Thackeray’s 140th birth anniversary, a red paint attack on Meenatai Thackeray’s bust sparks outrage, raising fears of politically motivated vandalism and deepening tensions in Maharashtra’s public sphere.

Mumbai: Unidentified miscreants threw red paint on the bust of Maasaheb Meenatai Thackeray, wife of late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, at the historic Shivaji Park in Dadar, Mumbai, on Wednesday morning.

Following the incident, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS president Raj Thackeray separately visited Shivaji Park, urging the police to apprehend the culprits at the earliest.

CCTV footage and mobile phone data from the area are being examined by the police to trace the miscreants. However, the nearest CCTV cameras do not cover the pedestal or the bust directly, so footage from the surrounding locality is under analysis. It remains unclear whether a single individual or a group was responsible.

The incident coincided with the 140th birth anniversary of Prabodhankar Thackeray — the grandfather of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray — a legendary social reformer, writer, and key figure in the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement.

Revered as Maasaheb, Meenatai Thackeray played a significant role in the growth of Shiv Sena and is considered the matriarch by all Shiv Sainiks, irrespective of their political alignment — whether from Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, or Raj Thackeray-led MNS. Maasaheb passed away on October 19, 1996, in Karjat, Raigad district.

The bust is located at the east end of Shivaji Park, while Balasaheb Thackeray’s memorial stands at the west end, just a stone’s throw away from Sena Bhavan, the headquarters of Shiv Sena (UBT). The attack is suspected to have occurred between 6 am and 7 am.

“This is condemnable. I feel two types of people could be behind it — someone ashamed even to mention their father and mother… someone of the ‘lawaris’ type, or it could be an attempt, similar to the unsuccessful effort to shut down Bihar over insulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother, to create unrest in Maharashtra,” Raj Thackeray said, demanding that the police find the accused within 24 hours.

Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief leader Eknath Shinde said a probe has been launched, and whoever is involved will be brought to book. His close aide, Thane MP Naresh Mhaske, added that the motive behind the act must be thoroughly investigated to determine if someone orchestrated it.

Minister of State for Home and Revenue Yogesh Kadam emphasized that strict action will be taken against the culprits. “My father and Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam got this statue made and installed on the orders of Balasaheb Thackeray,” he added.

As soon as the incident came to light, Shiv Sainiks rushed to the site and cleaned the premises. Using turpentine oil, they removed the paint and garlanded the bust with flowers.

“There should be a thorough probe,” said Mumbai South Central MP Anil Desai, a close aide of the Thackeray family. “The person who did this does not seem to be of sound mind. The attack happened right after the Sena (UBT) staged a ‘sindoor’ protest opposing the India-Pakistan cricket match in the ongoing Asia Cup. It followed their rally,” remarked Mahim MLA Mahesh Sawant, without going into specifics.

Desai, Sawant, and Uddhav’s PA and MLC Milind Narvekar were among the first to reach the scene and later briefed the former Maharashtra Chief Minister.

An FIR was registered against unidentified persons under Section 298 (injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class of persons) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) at Shivaji Park police station.