Pune: A case of assault has been registered against former BJP corporator Rajendra Shilimkar, along with his son, nephew, and brother, at the Sahakarnagar police station.
The incident occurred on June 20, 2024, when Chetan Arde visited the Shankar Maharaj Math on Satara Road for darshan (a spiritual visit).
At the same time, Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol was also present at the temple, where a Rudrabhishek (a ritual worship) was being performed for him.
When Arde attempted to enter the temple during the ritual, he was allegedly assaulted by Rajendra Shilimkar's brother Mahesh Shilimkar, son Atharva Shilimkar, nephew Archit Shilimkar, and their associates, purportedly due to caste-based discrimination.
Following the incident, Chetan Arde dialed 112 to report the assault, but the police did not arrive at the scene. Later, when Arde went to the Sahakarnagar police station to file a formal complaint, the officers there reportedly refused to record his statement or lodge a complaint.
As a result, Arde has been on a hunger strike for the past five days in front of the Social Welfare Department, demanding justice.
In a written letter to the police, Arde has expressed concern for his safety and requested that charges be filed against the accused under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989, amended in 2016. Following this, the police have registered a case against the Shilimkar family.
