There was heavy police deployment outside his Khar residence since the morning.
Two saints were lynched by a mob of villagers in Maharashtra’s Palghar in the month of April. The two seers belonged reportedly to the Juna Akhada and were identified as Kalpavrikshagiri Maharaj, 70, his assistant Sushilgiri Maharaj, 35. Their driver Nilesh Telgade, 30, was also waylaid near the Gadhchinchale village by a 1,000-strong mob of villagers.
The incident that took place in the midst of the Coronavirus induced lockdown had sent shockwaves across the country and sparked several debates.
The villagers attacked the saints mistaking them to be kidnappers. They brutally assaulted them with sticks, rods and stones, resulting in their death later, even as a small posse of policemen looked on, waiting for reinforcements from the district headquarters.
Palghar Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh was shunted on compulsory leave and replaced by Dattatray Shinde. In another unprecedented penal action against so many police officials for a single incident, then Kasa Police Station head Anandrao Kale was dismissed and two others slapped with compulsory retirement orders.
Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in opposition in Maharashtra has been attacking the MVA government over the issue demanding a full-fledged probe in the matter.