Knife skirmish between Nepali servants in Thackeray home

A knife-fight between two Nepali servants in 'Matoshree' -- the heavily fortified Thackeray household in Bandra east -- has raised serious security concerns, officials said here on Monday.

The incident occurred late on Saturday night when one servant, identified only as Sevak, attacked his colleague Pandit with a kitchen knife.

In the ensuing brawl, both servants sustained injuries while another maid-servant Manda who attempted to separate them was also hurt.

They were rushed to the Bhabha Hospital in Bandra west and were now recovering, Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone VIII Virendra Mishra told media persons.

He said Sevak was nabbed later that night and the motive behind the brawl and knife attack was being probed.

Sevak was presented in a magistrate's court where he was remanded to police custody.

The three-storeyed 'Matoshree' is among the most heavily secured buildings in Mumbai where Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray lives with his immediate family.

The Saturday incident, though an internal matter, has nevertheless raised security concerns as Thackeray -- and in the past his late father Sena founder-patriarch Bal Thackeray -- have been on terror hit-lists.

Hailing from Nepal, the two do not live in 'Matoshree' but have been working for many years in the Thackeray household as cooks, enjoying the family's confidence.

Though officials were not willing to go on record, they indicated that the incident could trigger a thorough security review of 'Matoshree' and the people working there and the regular stream of visitors there.

Uddhav Thackeray has been accorded Z-category security cover, besides an unspecified number of uniformed and plain-clothed policemen guarding the VVIP residence round-the-clock.

The Thackeray family is among the state's premier political families comprising the late Bal Thackeray, his brothers, son Uddhav, nephew Raj Thackeray, several grandchildren and other relatives, most of whom are now living separately.