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Former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde has denied allegations linking her to the killing of Shiv Sena functionary Pradeep Purnekar, calling them baseless and urging people to let police complete their investigation. The allegations were attributed to Purnekar’s son; the report does not establish who ordered or carried out the killing.

What Meenakshi Shinde said

Shinde said photographs of her with people do not prove a criminal connection. Addressing videos circulating on social media, she said reports suggested some material might be AI-generated and that police would clarify its relevance. That was her characterization; the report did not cite a forensic assessment of the videos.

She also said she was prepared to cooperate with police and asked political leaders and others to allow a thorough investigation. The PTI report carried by Hindustan Times quoted her as saying: “I am not listed as an accused in the case. Merely because leaders like Sanjay Raut or Aaditya Thackeray take my name does not make me an culprit.” This describes her statement at the time, not an independently verified update to the case record.

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What allegation was reported

According to the Hindustan Times report, published October 2, 2026, Ram Purnekar, the victim’s 26-year-old son, accused Shinde and her husband, Rajendra, of plotting the crime in a detailed statement recorded by police. That is an allegation attributed to the victim’s son, not a finding of guilt. Shinde denied links to the killing.

What happened to Pradeep Purnekar

The report described Purnekar as a Thane division head of Sena. He was shot and stabbed on Tuesday night within the jurisdiction of Kapurbawdi police station. He was taken to a nearby private hospital and died during emergency treatment, the report said.

Investigation status reported on October 2

At the time of publication, PTI reported that one person had been arrested, two vehicles allegedly involved in the crime had been seized, and police had formed a 23-member Special Investigation Team. The report said investigators were examining multiple angles, including earlier complaints. These are publication-time details; they do not establish the case’s status on October 3 or later.

The report also said Sena leaders Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray joined a protest outside Kapurbawdi police station on Wednesday as pressure mounted for action. Protest activity and public allegations are not investigative conclusions.

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What is—and is not—established

The report records competing accounts: the victim’s son accused Shinde and her husband, while Shinde rejected the allegation. It does not provide a police or court document resolving those claims, report an investigative conclusion about their involvement, or establish who ordered or carried out the killing. Later arrests, charges, or forensic findings should not be inferred from this account.

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Source: Hindustan Times, PTI report, published October 2, 2026. The page says the agency copy was reproduced without modifications.

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