Overview
- The Kasarvadavali police registered an FIR against Pradeep Yashwant Purnekar and an accomplice for damaging television sets at Hill Top and California Hotel in Thane’s Brahmand Naka during the Sept 28 Asia Cup final.
- Senior police inspector Nivrutti Kolhatkar said the pair allegedly forced entry around 9 pm and smashed TVs that were broadcasting the match.
- Clips of the break-ins circulated widely online, and investigators are treating the footage as part of the evidentiary record.
- Local leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT) had warned venues not to screen the game and later defended the vandalism as a protest against sporting ties with Pakistan, invoking Bal Thackeray’s legacy.
- Uddhav Thackeray said he did not watch the match and called viewers “deshdrohi,” as police confirmed an active probe following the formal complaint and earlier reports of no complaints were superseded by the FIR; India won by five wickets.