Don’t Think of Legal Technicalities, Ensure Harshest Punishment for Accused: Raj Thackeray on Pune’s Nasrapur case

Pune, 05 April 2026: Reacting strongly to the brutal rape and murder of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl in Nasrapur, Raj Thackeray said the incident had “shaken the conscience” and demanded the harshest punishment for the accused.

In a social media post on X, Thackeray said the accused raped the minor, killed her and attempted to hide the body. “The brutality of the crime is horrifying and deeply enraging. The government should not think about legal technicalities or opinions of others and should ensure the accused is dealt with in the harshest possible manner,” he said.

Questioning the government’s repeated assurances of fast-track action in such cases, he said the authorities must clearly define what “fast-track” means. “The government seems to wake up only after such incidents. Crimes such as abduction and exploitation of women and girls are rising steadily year after year, which shows there is no fear of law left,” he said.

He also criticised reports of police action against protesters in the area. “Why does the government not show the same urgency against those who exploit women and children?” he asked.

While asserting that the accused would be punished, Thackeray questioned why such crimes continue to recur in Maharashtra. “This is the state that laid the foundation for women’s education and empowerment in the country. Why are such incidents happening repeatedly here? There must be a comprehensive reflection on this,” he said.

He added that public outrage surfaces after such crimes but fades quickly, without leading to fundamental reforms. “We must ask when we will initiate serious discussion and action on the root causes,” he said.

Thackeray said what concerns him most is that Maharashtra’s “focus and direction” have become distorted. “There is no fear or accountability left. The obsession with acquiring and wielding power has spread across all levels of society,” he said, adding that this tendency is visible not only in politics but also in business, cultural institutions and other spheres.

He said the breakdown of social accountability has emboldened even weaker individuals to exploit those more vulnerable. “Earlier, there was a sense that someone was watching, that wrongdoing would bring social disgrace. That fear has disappeared, which is dangerous,” he said.

Highlighting broader societal issues, Thackeray said unchecked greed, the pursuit of power, the influence of OTT content, the race for money and land, and excessive mobile use have disrupted social balance.

He urged media, politicians and society at large to recognise the damage such incidents are causing to Maharashtra. Referring to economic liberalisation, he said while it brought benefits, it also eroded traditional value systems and promoted excessive individualism and materialism.

“We are all part of this society. My party will fully support measures needed to prevent such incidents in future. The government must act immediately to restore balance and direction,” he said.