The MNS chief is under scrutiny with the Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh saying the government was getting a legal opinion of what action could be taken against the MNS chief after the rhetoric against northern Indians in the state. However both the Police Commissioner Jayant Umranikar and Superintendent of Police (Rural) Vishwas Nangre Patil said they had received no orders for any arrest. They were busy making arrangements for the PM’s visit to the city over the next two days.

The situation in the city was tense, with MNS (Bhor taluka) chief Sandeep Laxman Bandal found murdered in front of the Mehendale garage in the Kothrud area at around 2.30 pm.

MNS activists kept a low profile on Thursday and unlike Wednesday did not get involved in any acts of vandalism. Kishore Shinde, an MNS corporator from Kothrud area said there were no meetings planned and the MNS chief was only in Pune to attend the Friday function.

Purandare, who has been hosting Enduro-3 adventure sport over the year, confirmed that the MNS chief had checked for the timings and had promised to attend the function. Responding to Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil’s statement that there was not enough proof to arrest the MNS chief, human rights lawyer and activist Asim Sarode said there were several sections under IPC which could lead to the MNS chief’s arrest.