The Story Of Raj And Uddhav: How The Thackeray Cousins’ Breakup Was Triggered By Homicide Thriller – News18

Final Up to date:April 21, 2025, 07:00 IST

By 2003, Uddhav was all however introduced because the Thackeray inheritor, whereas Raj – sidelined partly because of the Ramesh Kini homicide case – formally give up the Shiv Sena in 2005

Pictures and caricature are each arts that cope with photographs. However, they’re removed from being related. One is usually seen as much less imaginative however extra exact, the opposite has clever creativeness at its core. The connection of estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray – a possible reunion after 20 years – can nicely be captured in the truth that one makes use of a high-res digicam to pinpoint and the opposite a mere pencil however numerous aptitude.

So, when Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, a cartoonist himself, selected the photographer Uddhav over his fellow artist Raj, observers felt it was extra as a result of the previous was his son and the latter a nephew.

By 2003, Uddhav was all however introduced because the Thackeray inheritor, whereas Raj – sidelined for some years by then partly because of the Ramesh Kini homicide case – formally give up the Shiv Sena in 2005 whereas blaming his cousin for the choice. He went on to kind his personal model, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), in 2006 and made his declare to the Thackeray legacy.

Since Bal Thackeray was alive for some years after that, Uddhav’s declare proved stronger regardless that he lacked the charisma, even the artwork of oratory, that his father had constructed his total model on. Raj had the model ethos, however not the fabric backing; therefore, he neither received the social gathering nor the legacy.

When a 3rd claimant, Eknath Shinde, emerged from exterior the household and took away a lot of the unique social gathering, its very title and image, the cousins needed to realise that they had extra in frequent than they acknowledged. Particular person ambition would imply nothing when the trophy itself is misplaced; even the Thackeray surname received’t matter. Each the events, that are their weakest in present state politics, are viewing this as a remaining effort to remain related.

Raj’s MNS, which initially took a strident anti-North Indian stand, was pushed to the margins after profitable 13 seats within the 2009 meeting elections. It drew a clean within the 2024 meeting polls.

Uddhav, in the meantime, acquired a significant setback in 2022 when Shinde break up the Shiv Sena and toppled his authorities. Within the meeting polls, his Shiv Sena (UBT) was diminished to twenty seats.

Now that their doable patch-up has progressed from mere hearsay to wise hypothesis, it’s well timed to recall that their breakup story as soon as included a homicide thriller as a subplot.

WHAT IS THE RAMESH KINI MURDER CASE?

In keeping with stories, on July 23, 1996, Dadar resident Ramesh Kini was discovered useless inside a theatre in Pune. His demise, reported to be underneath mysterious circumstances, triggered a political storm in Maharashtra with the person’s spouse Sheela alleging that Raj Thackeray had a hand in it.

Although the CBI later gave Raj a clear chit and didn’t title him within the chargesheet, the case turned a thorn within the aspect for his promising political profession as many observers noticed him because the “rightful inheritor” to Bal Thackeray’s legacy. However, it was to not be.

Kini had reportedly left a word saying he was dying by suicide and his advocate knew why. His lawyer had a word from him saying his landlords – Laxmichand Shah and Suman Shah – had been mentally torturing him to vacate their flat in Matunga. The Shahs had been carefully related to the Shiv Sena by means of scholar wing chief Ashutosh Rane, all of whom had been purportedly linked to Raj.

The case, first probed by the state CID, was later given to the CBI. The Shahs and Rane had been charged with felony conspiracy for forcing Kini to vacate his flat that led to his demise by suicide.

Media stories stated two post-mortems had been carried out – one in Pune and one other in Mumbai – that additionally produced totally different opinions. Sheela and social activist Pushpa Bhave, who single-handedly took on the Shiv Sena, had filed a writ within the Bombay Excessive Court docket that directed the probe to be handed over to the CBI adopted by an unsuccessful attraction from the state authorities. The central company took over the case in November 1996.

HOW BAL THACKERAY REACHED OUT TO AMITABH BACHCHAN TO ‘HELP’ NEPHEW

There are, nevertheless, accounts of how Bal Thackeray approached Bollywood famous person Amitabh Bachchan to make use of his affect with the United Entrance authorities to “rescue” Raj.

In his guide, The Cousins Thackeray, journalist and writer Dhaval Kulkarni has written an account of how Bal Thackeray, whereas saying the Ramesh Kini homicide case was used to focus on his household, additionally admitted in an interview to Sena mouthpiece Saamana that the case “had not been dealt with the best way it ought to have been from the very starting”.

When Raj was exonerated, Bal Thackeray known as it “the victory of the reality” whereas Uddhav stated: “I had stated this earlier than, the fingers which have carried the saffron flag, won’t ever commit a sin…”

Regardless of that in Could 2009, Uddhav in his struggle for political supremacy raked up the Ramesh Kini homicide case, merely utilizing it as political ammunition towards Raj. This was even though he had accompanied his cousin to the CBI court docket, and stood by him all through.

“A senior Shiv Sena chief loyal to Uddhav stated he had stood by his cousin in the course of the Ramesh Kini controversy. ‘Many conferences, together with these with legal professionals, occurred on the Saamna workplace. Uddhav additionally accompanied Raj to the CBI court docket,” he added,” states an excerpt from Kulkarni’s guide.

Within the guide, Kulkarni has talked about that the clear chit to Raj was not with out controversy. He has referred to an article revealed by Hindustan Occasions on December 23, 2013, by journalist Sujata Anandan.

This report claimed that Amitabh Bachchan performed a job. Anandan’s sources had advised her that Bal Thackeray had “nearly gone down on his knees” with Bachchan, “who reportedly organized a secret midnight assembly at his home between the then Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and the Shiv Sena chief”.

Kulkarni has additionally made a reference to senior journalist and editor Nikhil Wagle, whose Marathi newspaper Mahanagar had uncovered the Kini case. “…in these tumultuous days, rumours had been that Raj was prone to be arrested by the CBI. He claimed that politician Amar Singh had saved Raj’s pores and skin in the course of the episode. Sarcastically, Raj would later goal Singh throughout his agitation towards north Indians launched in 2008,” states an excerpt.

Kulkarni additional writes in his guide that the homicide case had a lot to do with Raj’s decline within the Shiv Sena, coupled with deaths within the household and an ailing Bal Thackeray’s rising reliance on Uddhav.

“One among Raj’s former enterprise associates claimed that in these instances, some individuals had tried to affect his uncle’s opinion about Raj by alluding to elements like his flamboyant life-style. Raj was steadily pushed to the margins and past. Quickly, he was requested to cease coming to the Saamna workplace. This led to his estrangement and eventual break from the Shiv Sena to kind his personal social gathering in 2006,” he writes within the guide.

What might basically have been seen as politicisation of the CBI, ended up being simply one other case of two cousins combating over “ancestral” property.

ARE THE ESTRANGED COUSINS READY FOR RAPPROCHEMENT?

Raj and Uddhav have sparked hypothesis a few doable reconciliation with statements indicating they might ignore “trivial points” and be part of fingers almost twenty years after a bitter parting of how. Whereas Raj, who heads the MNS, stated uniting within the pursuits of “Marathi manoos” was not tough, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray stated he was able to put apart trivial fights supplied these working towards Maharashtra’s pursuits weren’t entertained.

Uddhav’s assertion was seen as a veiled reference to the MNS chief just lately internet hosting Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the rival Shiv Sena, at his residence. With out naming his cousin, he stated nothing must be performed to assist the “thieves”, obvious reference to the BJP and Shinde-led Sena.

The excitement about rapprochement began after Raj Thackeray stated in a podcast interview with film-maker Mahesh Manjrekar – recorded weeks in the past however launched on Saturday (April 19) – that he had no points when working with Uddhav within the undivided Shiv Sena. The query is does Uddhav need to work with him, he stated.

“For a much bigger trigger, our fights and points are trivial. Maharashtra could be very massive. For Maharashtra, the existence of Marathi manoos (native Marathi-speakers), these fights are very trivial. I don’t suppose it’s a tough process to return collectively and keep united. However the subject is of need,” he stated. “It’s not the query of my want or selfishness. We have to take a look at the bigger image. All Maharashtrians ought to kind one social gathering.”

Later within the day, talking at a Sena (UBT) occasion, Uddhav stated: “I’m additionally able to put apart trivial points and I attraction to everybody to return collectively for the sake of Marathi manoos.”

With out naming Raj, he stated had the latter opposed companies from Maharashtra going to Gujarat, a authorities caring for the pursuits of Maharashtra would have been shaped in Delhi and Maharashtra.

“It can’t be that (you) assist (BJP throughout Lok Sabha polls), then oppose (throughout meeting polls) and once more compromise. This can not occur,” he stated. “First resolve that whoever works towards the pursuits of Maharashtra won’t be welcomed at dwelling, you’ll not go to their houses and break bread with them. Then speak in regards to the pursuits of Maharashtra.”

In the course of the Lok Sabha polls, Raj had introduced unconditional assist to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Uddhav additional stated he was able to put aside minor disagreements.

“I’m saying I don’t have fights with anybody, and if any, I’m resolving them. However resolve on this primary,” he stated.

Sandeep Deshpande, MNS spokesperson, struck a discordant word saying his social gathering had a foul expertise with Uddhav in the course of the 2014 meeting polls and 2017 civic physique polls when there was a refrain of demand that the cousins ought to reunite.

“I don’t suppose (Raj) saheb has given any proposal for an alliance after such a foul expertise. Now they’re asking us to not speak to the BJP. (However) If Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been to name Uddhav, he’ll go working to the BJP,” he stated.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Sanjay Raut stated the 2 cousins share “ties of blood”. “Raj Thackeray has expressed his opinion. Uddhav ji has responded. Now let’s wait and watch,” he stated.

Requested about Uddhav’s calls for, he stated they weren’t pre-conditions however emotions of individuals. “The enemies of Maharashtra shouldn’t be entertained. Immediately’s BJP is the primary enemy of Maharashtra,” he added.

(With PTI inputs)