India, Sept. 19 -- The simmering tensions between Mahayuti partners Shiv Sena and BJP in the Thane-Navi Mumbai belt have escalated, with a public interest litigation (PIL) petition being filed in the Bombay high court challenging the controversial 'Janta Darbar' (People's Court) held by senior BJP leader Ganesh Naik, who is the state forest minister and the MLA from Airoli.

The petition, filed on Wednesday by Navi Mumbai Shiv Sena chief Kishore Patkar, specifically targets Naik's role as the guardian minister of Palghar district, arguing that he has no jurisdiction to conduct such official public grievance meetings in Navi Mumbai which falls under Thane district.

The PIL names the state government, the urban development department that ...