In a shocking incident in Mulund East, a 26-year-old man allegedly set fire to a nameplate near the office of BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya after becoming enraged over the closure of an illegal gym in his residential society.
According to police, the incident took place late Monday night in the Neelam Nagar area. The accused, identified as Pravin Kundar, has been arrested by Navghar Police and booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Pravin Kundar, a resident of Neelam Nagar, lives in another wing of the same society where Somaiya resides. His parents are reportedly settled abroad, and he had lost his job a few months ago. Kundar was a regular at a gym operating within the society premises, which was recently shut down following a complaint reportedly made by Somaiya, citing its illegal status. The gym was later shifted to Nanepada.
Police said Kundar was upset as he had to travel a longer distance to access the relocated gym and blamed Somaiya for the inconvenience. Allegedly angered further by what he believed to be an “illegal” nameplate installed by Somaiya, Kundar carried out the act in the early hours of April 6.
Dressed in black clothes and wearing a helmet to conceal his identity, Kundar reportedly poured a flammable substance on an iron nameplate located around 40 feet from Somaiya’s office and attempted to set it on fire.
A security guard present at the spot tried to stop the suspect, but Kundar fled the scene. The incident caused damage to the nameplate, and burn marks were later found in the surrounding area.
Upon receiving information, police inspected the site and launched an investigation. Using CCTV footage, they tracked down and arrested Kundar. He has been charged under Section 326 (F) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Kundar was produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody, senior police inspector Parag Sonawane confirmed.