Several pictures, including the one featuring Nikule, were taken during a programme organised by the BJP to highlight the achievements of the erstwhile Devendra Fadnavis government, he said.

Gadchincle sarpanch Chitra Chaudhary can also be seen in one of the pictures, Sawant said, adding the BJP is ruling the village panchayat for the last 10 years.

Besides Chaudhary, local BJP mandal president Sangita Kotela and then chairperson of Dahanu Panchayat Samiti Rama Thackeray were present at the event, Sawant said.

He said the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, of which the Congress is a constituent, will bring all those involved in the lynching incident to book.

“But it is surprising that the BJP hasn’t taken action against it’s people accused of killing the sadhus”, he said.

Sawant demanded that the Centre enact a law against mob lynchings as directed by the Supreme Court.