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Maharashtra minister Ganesh Naik said people he spoke with believed disputes over redevelopment in Manorama Nagar and Azad Nagar might be linked to the killing of Pradeep Purnekar. That is an unverified account attributed to Naik—not an established motive. A Hindustan Times report published October 3, 2026, said police were investigating multiple possible motives and had not announced a conclusion.
What Naik said about the alleged redevelopment link
Naik, Maharashtra’s forest minister and BJP sampark minister for Thane district, told reporters that people he spoke with believed disputes concerning redevelopment in Manorama Nagar and Azad Nagar could be behind the killing. His statement was second-hand: he described what others had told him, rather than presenting a finding by investigators.
“Most people I spoke to said that disputes over the redevelopment of Manorama Nagar and Azad Nagar, spread over 160 acres, were the root cause. Some also said that he (Purnekar) acted against the drug mafia, while others claimed that an upcoming parking tower in Thane was behind his murder.”
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The 160-acre figure is part of Naik’s reported account. Hindustan Times did not independently establish in its report that a specific redevelopment project covered that area. The report also described other claims about possible motives; it did not verify any of them. Hindustan Times, October 3, 2026.
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What is known about the killing and investigation
The Hindustan Times report said Purnekar, a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former corporator, was attacked inside his Thane office at about 9:30 p.m. on September 29, 2026. The report said attackers shot him and also used a sharp-edged weapon.
Deputy commissioner of police (crime branch) Amarsinh Jadhav, who headed the special investigation team, said police were examining possible angles to identify the accused and determine the motive. The report did not say investigators had established that redevelopment, alleged action against drug networks, a planned parking tower, or any other proposed motive caused the killing.
Arrests and the reported denial
The report said two more suspects were arrested in Karnala, Raigad district, on October 2 while allegedly trying to flee to Goa, bringing the reported total number of arrests to three. It said the two were remanded in police custody until October 8, 2026. An arrest is not proof of guilt, and the report did not establish that any arrested person was responsible for the killing.
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Former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde denied any link between herself or her family and the murder, according to the report. She said she was ready to face a police inquiry. The allegation and her denial are reported statements, not a finding of responsibility.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Reported timeline
- September 29, 2026, about 9:30 p.m.: Purnekar was attacked inside his Thane office, according to the report.
- October 2, 2026: Two additional suspects were arrested in Karnala, taking the reported total to three; the two were remanded until October 8.
- October 2, 2026: Naik met Purnekar’s family and raised the possible redevelopment connection. Shinde also denied links to the murder and said she was prepared to face police inquiry.
These developments reflect the Hindustan Times report published October 3, 2026. It does not establish any later procedural developments.
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