Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday told the Maharashtra Legislative Council that those responsible for the torture of an OBC man in Jalna district would not be shielded, and that they would be charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999.

Clips of the incident, which took place last week, have gone viral on social media.

The victim, Kailas Borade, was going to offer prayers in a temple on the occasion of Mahashivratri last week at Janephal village in Bhokardan tehsil when the two accused, who had an old dispute with him, intercepted him. They forcibly took Borade to the temple’s kitchen, stripped him and branded him with a hot rod on his thighs, stomach and knees, the police complaint alleged.

The victim suffered severe injuries and was rushed to a hospital for treatment.

The police have arrested one of the accused, Bhagwat Daud. It is believed that Bhagwat attacked Kailas on the instructions of his brother, Navnath Daud, a worker of the Shiv Sena (UBT). Navnath is still absconding.