Meenatai Thackeray statue smeared with red paint, 1 held

Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders blamed the state government for failing to protect the statue, while Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray visited the site and appealed for peace. Leaders from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena too condemned the act, saying Meenatai was like a mother to all Shiv Sena workers.

By evening, the alleged miscreant, Upendra Pavaskar, was nabbed by the Shivaji Park police based on footage from multiple CCTV cameras.

“The accused also tore some posters and we are questioning him to find out the motive,” said a police officer.