Police arrested three youths outside Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat's residence in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar around midnight on Thursday after the group hurled stones and empty glass bottles at the property.
Two police personnel sustained minor injuries while apprehending the suspects during a brief physical confrontation outside the gates.
Shirsat, a senior minister belonging to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, unleashed an unsparing public assault on the city's police command during a press conference on Friday. He accused top brass of abandoning basic enforcement duties to pursue illicit wealth and prized transfers.
"An attack has taken place at my house. Murders are happening in the city every day. The Police Commissioner is only interested in extortion, while drugs are being sold openly," Shirsat stated.
Police identified the three arrested individuals as Rohit Bhutale, Shivam Gaikwad, and Pratik Kute.
The incident unfolded outside the minister's residence located in the Golwadi area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. According to police records, three youths arrived near the perimeter late Thursday night, created a disturbance, and began throwing stones and empty glass bottles toward the house.
Duty security personnel and on-site police moved quickly. They tackled all three individuals and brought them into custody, during which two personnel suffered injuries. Investigators later inspected the property and drafted a formal crime-scene panchnama.
Police registered a criminal case against Bhutale, Gaikwad, and Kute on charges that include criminal trespass, obstructing government servants from executing their duties, criminal intimidation, and damaging property.
Shirsat directed sharp personal criticism at the local police hierarchy, claiming senior officers failed to treat an attack on a sitting state cabinet minister with adequate urgency. He said his direct phone calls to the Police Commissioner immediately after the midnight assault went unanswered because the officer's handset was switched off.
A Deputy Commissioner of Police reached the scene roughly two-and-a-half hours late, Shirsat alleged, asserting that the officer showed up only after the Director General of Police stepped in directly.
"The Commissioner is only interested in getting a lucrative posting in Pimpri-Chinchwad," Shirsat alleged before reporters, adding: "Illegal gambling dens are operating with the blessings of the police. I will hand over the entire list to the Chief Minister. Will the police come only after we are dead?"
| Case Parameter | Official Status |
|---|---|
| Location of Incident | Minister's residence, Golwadi, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar |
| Time of Occurrence | Midnight, Thursday |
| Named Accused | Rohit Bhutale, Shivam Gaikwad, Pratik Kute |
| Legal Charges Registered | Criminal trespass, obstructing public servants, intimidation, property damage |
| Official Injuries | Two police personnel sustained minor injuries |
| Custody Status | Under active interrogation by police |
Investigating officers are currently interrogating the three suspects to establish the precise motive behind the midnight assault and determine whether external individuals directed or financed the disruption.