Thane: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday night assured the family of slain Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary Pradeep Purnekar that justice would be delivered in his alleged murder, as political outreach to the bereaved family gathered pace.Shiv Sena (UBT) Manpada division chief Purnekar was attacked with a chopper and shot dead at his office in Manpada on Sept 30.Purnekar’s son, Ram, met Fadnavis at a Navratri pandal at Ghodbunder, with BJP MLA Sanjay Kelkar and Deputy Mayor Krishna Patil facilitating the meeting. “I will not let injustice happen to your father. I will stand with you,” Kelkar quoted the CM as telling Ram.Ram said: “The CM has assured me of his support and has called me again. I am hopeful of getting justice for my father.”The meeting came shortly after Fadnavis visited the Tembhi Naka Navratri pandal with deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde.In a significant development, cabinet minister Pratap Sarnaik visited the Purnekar family on Saturday afternoon, assuring them of Shiv Sena’s full support. Sarnaik is the first leader from Shinde’s camp to meet the family since the murder and the allegations against former mayor Meenakshi Shinde and her husband, Rajendra.“Shinde has sent me as his representative because he believes it is Sena’s duty to stand with the family in their hour of distress. He may also visit them soon. I have shared a close association with the Purnekars since my days as a corporator. There is no political pressure on the police. I have personally offered to arrange the best legal team for the family to ensure justice,” Sarnaik said after the meeting.The family, however, reiterated its demand for Meenakshi Shinde’s expulsion from the party, saying it would be an important step towards securing justice for the slain functionary.Meanwhile, Thane police summoned Rajendra for questioning for the third time this week. Special Investigation Team (SIT) had earlier questioned him for over nine hours.Meenakshi, meanwhile, maintained that her family was being unnecessarily dragged into the case and said she was ready to face any police questioning.
