The Khadakpada police have arrested one more accused in connection with the dispute at Ajmera Heights Society in Kalyan’s Yogidham. The incident involved Akhilesh Shukla, an account manager at MTDC, and his wife, who, along with eight to ten others, allegedly attacked the Deshmukh family. The dispute began when the Deshmukhs intervened to resolve an issue among neighbors regarding incense stick smoke placed outside a door. The police are still on the lookout for one more accused.
The arrested individual has been identified as Ritik Ashok Kamble (24), a resident of Kalyan, who was taken into custody on Thursday. Earlier, six other accused were arrested, including Akhilesh Shukla, Darshan Borade, Sumit Jadhav, Geeta Shukla, Parth Jadhav, and Vivek Jadhav.
So far, seven accused have been arrested. On Friday, they were produced in court and remanded to police custody for two days for further investigation.
Kalyan police confirmed that all five of the initial accused arrested in this matter are Marathi. The police further stated that the assailants who supported Shukla are all from Kalyan and identify as Marathi.
In a video posted on social media before his arrest, Akhilesh Shukla, speaking in fluent Marathi, asserted that he considers himself a Maharashtrian. He claimed that his family has been living in the state in harmony for five generations. Shukla denied that the altercation with his neighbors, the Kalvikattes and Deshmukhs, had any regional undertones. He explained that the dispute began when he moved his shoe rack to a different location outside his flat, to which the Kalvikattes objected. He said the matter had been simmering for over a year.
Meanwhile, Geeta Akhilesh Shukla has filed a counter-complaint against Lata Kalvikatte, Dheeraj Deshmukh, and Mona Deshmukh under sections 74, 115(2), 352, 351(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. According to the FIR lodged by Geeta on December 18 at 7:30 AM, she stated that she had lit an incense stick outside her door. Subsequently, Lata Kalvikatte came to her home, and a heated argument ensued. Kalvikatte allegedly assaulted her.
