Archive · 23 Jan 2026
Mahad Poll Violence: Minister's Son Surrenders
The Bombay High Court was upset because the police hadn't arrested a minister's son and his relatives who were accused of causing trouble during an election.
The court asked if the Chief Minister was too weak to take action.
The minister promised his son would surrender by Friday.
The court warned the police that they might have to take action if the accused weren't caught.
The fight happened between supporters of two political groups during the Mahad Municipal Council elections.
The minister's son and his cousin surrendered to the police the next day.
The court also noted that the son of a former MLA was involved and that the police should arrest him too.
Bombay High Court questioned Maharashtra's Chief Minister over the failure to arrest Vikas Gogawale, a minister's son, in a case of election violence.
Vikas Gogawale and his cousin Mahesh Gogawale were named in an FIR and their anticipatory bail was rejected in December 2025, but they remained absconding.
The court suggested that the police might be favouring the accused due to their political connections.
Advocate General assured the court that the minister would ensure his son surrenders by Friday.
Vikas Gogawale and his cousin Mahesh Gogawale surrendered before the Mahad police on January 23, 2026.
- Who
- Vikas Gogawale (son of Minister Bharat Gogawale), Mahesh Nivruti Gogawale (minister's nephew), Shreyansh Jagtap (NCP leader)
- What
- Failure to arrest accused in Mahad municipal election violence case
- When
- December 2, 2025 (incident), December 23, 2025 (bail rejection), January 22, 2026 (court hearing), January 23, 2026 (surrender)
- Where
- Mahad, Raigad district, Maharashtra; Bombay High Court
- Why
- Allegations of political influence and police favouritism in the case
- Accused
- Vikas Gogawale, Mahesh Nivruti Gogawale, Shreyansh Jagtap
- Incident Date
- December 2, 2025
- Location
- Mahad, Raigad district, Maharashtra
- Court
- Bombay High Court
- Minister Involved
- Bharat Gogawale (Shiv Sena MLA and Cabinet Minister)
- Anticipatory Bail Rejection Date
- December 23, 2025
- Surrender Date
- January 23, 2026
Sources
'Is The CM So Helpless?': Bombay HC Questions State As Minister’s Son Evades Arrest In Mahad Poll Violence Case
Bombay HC asks if Maharashtra CM ‘helpless’ to take action against minister’s son evading arrest
Mahad poll violence: Sena Minister Gogawale’s son surrenders before police
Elgaar Parishad case: Only 1 accused yet to get bail as Bombay HC grants relief to 2 Kabir Kala Manch members
