Who is the mastermind of Pramod Mahajan’s murder? A question asked sixteen years later by the daughter of the late veteran BJP leader has rattled the political corridors in Mumbai. Pramod’s younger brother Pravin was tried and sentenced for life imprisonment for his murder, but Poonam’s remarks have led everyone to wonder who else was involved in the murder and was there a larger conspiracy to eliminate Pramod.
Pramod Mahajan, former minister in the NDA government and a BJP stalwart, was shot by his younger brother Pravin on April 22, 2006. His brother-in-law Gopinath Munde rushed him to Hinduja Hospital, where he succumbed to the injuries twelve days later on May 3.
After showering Pramod with bullets, Pravin surrendered at the Worli police station. However, when the trial began, he pleaded not guilty. A part of the trial was held in-camera after Pravin began making certain sensational statements.
After examining scores of witnesses and evidence produced by the cops, the court held Pravin guilty of Pramod’s murder. Although the complete order was kept under the wraps, it was established that Pravin killed Pramod because he had a grudge against him. The media reported that there was a dispute between the two brothers over financial issues. Pravin was sentenced for life imprisonment. However, he died because of a stroke while at his home on a parole.
Sixteen years later, on November 6, 2022, Pramod’s daughter Poonam created a furor by asking who is the mastermind of his father’s killing. Poonam is a Member of Parliament from the North-Central Mumbai Lok Sabha seat. Speaking at an event, Poonam said while she knew who killed her father, the government during that time didn’t find out who was the mastermind.
Poonam’s statement appeared to be politically coloured, as the UPA government was in power in Maharashtra and at the centre when Pramod Mahajan was killed. By invoking the murder of his father, Poonam attempted to target opposition parties like the Congress and the NCP. However, the use of the word “mastermind” has kept everyone guessing whether there was something more than what has been revealed to the public.
Was there anybody else apart from Pravin who wanted to get Pramod killed? Was there a larger conspiracy to kill Pramod? Was the act of killing Pramod by Pravin and then surrendering before cops were scripted? Poonam Mahajan’s political detractors have hit back at her by asking if she knows the mastermind, then why she is not revealing his name.
Pramod Mahajan had played an active role in Maharashtra politics. He was the architect of the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in the late 80s. Whenever some dispute occurred between the two parties, Pramod acted as a troubleshooter. He had good offices with the late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and kept him in good humour.
It is widely believed in Maharashtra’s political circles that, had Pramod been alive, the breakup between the Shiv Sena and BJP in 2019 would have been averted.