According to the Gadchinchale Sarpanch (village head) a rumour had been floating in the village from the messaging app WhatsApp, claiming a gang of child thieves harvesting organs was active in the area during the lock-down. Īfter rumours spread in the village about the possible activity of organ harvesting gangs and kidnappers in the area at night, the villagers formed a vigilante group. Often the fake news involves rumours of child kidnapping or roaming bandits. In the past, attacks and lynchings fueled by rumours on WhatsApp have occurred in India, where the fast propagation of fake news has led to violent outcomes. The government said that both the attackers and the victims were of same religion. On 22 April, Maharashtra Home Minister, Anil Deshmukh posted a complete list of people arrested, stating that none of the arrested were Muslims. After the incident, rumours were spread to stoke religious tension. Īs of 4 May, 115 villagers have been arrested by the Maharashtra police on charges of murder and an investigation is ongoing.

Policemen who intervened were also attacked four policemen and a senior police officer were injured.

The vigilante group of villagers had mistaken the three passengers as thieves and killed them. The incident was fuelled by WhatsApp rumours of thieves operating in the area during the countrywide coronavirus lockdown. After hearing the senior lawyers appearing for both sides for over an hour, the bench adjourned the hearing till today morning, asking Senior Advocate Harish Salve (who appeared for Eknath Shinde group) to re-draft the written submissions for more clarity.On 16 April 2020, a vigilante group lynched two Hindu Sadhus and their driver in Gadchinchale Village, Palghar District, Maharashtra, India.

Yesterday, the Top Court heard the preliminary arguments in the cases relating to the dispute between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde arising out of the rift within the Shiv Sena political party. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Hima Kohli is hearing petitions filed by petitioners belonging to Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray factions of Shiv Sena party in relation to disqualification proceedings, the election of Speaker, recognition of party whip, floor test for Shinde Government in the Maharashtra assembly and proceedings initiated by the Election Commission of India on request made by the Eknath Shinde-led faction for their recognition as the 'real' Shivsena and their claim over the party's election symbol - the bow and arrow.

Case status maharashtra