A dramatic turn of events unfolded in Panvel late Saturday night after workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) allegedly stormed and vandalised a local bar, just hours after party chief Raj Thackeray’s fiery address denouncing the presence of dance bars in Raigad, a land he described as “sacred” to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The incident unfolded at Night Riders The Bar, located in Kon village near Palaspe Phata, where a group of men reportedly barged in, smashed liquor bottles, upturned furniture, and left a trail of destruction behind. The bar was targeted shortly after midnight in what appears to be direct fallout of Thackeray’s comments.
A video of the incident quickly went viral on social media, prompting the police to register a case against 15 individuals under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Officials from Panvel Taluka Police said they have so far identified eight suspects, including MNS office-bearer Yogesh Chile. However, all the accused remain untraceable, with police noting that their phones have been switched off since the incident.
Earlier in the day, Raj Thackeray had delivered a strongly worded speech at the 78th foundation day event of the Shetkari Kamagar Party, held in Raigad. Slamming the rise of illegal dance bars in the region, Thackeray accused non-Marathi individuals of running these establishments and corrupting local youth. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut was also present at the event.
