Following the assault on former Navy officer Madan Sharma after he forwarded a cartoon on Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, his family has said they do not feel safe in the state. His son went on to demand President’s Rule in Maharashtra, while the BJP has launched an attack on the Shiv Sena-led government over the attack.

Sunny Sharma, son of former Navy officer Madan Sharma said, “We are not satisfied with the arrests. We do not feel safe in Maharashtra. There should be President’s Rule in the state and a re-election.”

His daughter Sheela Sharma also said that they do not trust the Maharashtra government any longer.

Meanwhile, as the arrested men were given bail on Saturday. Family members of Madan Sharma, along with BJP workers launched a protest outside the Additional Commissioner's Office in Mumbai over the bail pleas being approved.

BJP MLA Atul Bhatkalkar met Madan Sharma, who is undergoing treatment and said his vitals are normal. Union minister Vijay Kumar Singh said in a tweet, “Anguished at the unfortunate incident in Mumbai. A 62 yr old veteran is beaten up by goons. All servicemen feel the pain & disgust to know that a person who served was beaten up for sharing a cartoon @OfficeofUT strong action needed by you to show you are a leader & a nationalist (sic)”.

Madan Sharma, a 62-year-old retired Navy officer, was allegedly beaten up by Shiv Sena workers in Mumbai on Friday after he forwarded a cartoon on CM Uddhav Thackeray on WhatsApp.

Following the attack, Madan Sharma said, “8-10 people attacked and beat me up today after I received threatening calls for a message that I had forwarded. I have worked for the nation my entire life. A government like this should not exist.”

Six men were arrested in connection with the incident that took place around 11.30 am in Lokhandwala Complex area in suburban Kandivali on Friday.

"Retired Navy officer Madan Sharma had forwarded a cartoon on Thackeray on a WhatsApp group. Some Sena workers went to his house and beat him up. Sharma sustained an eye injury and is being treated at hospital," police said.

On Saturday, all the accused were given bail on a surety bond of Rs 5,000. The bail was approved keeping court guidelines in mind due to the coronavirus situation.

A case under IPC section 325 (causing grievous hurt) and provisions related to rioting was registered against six persons.