Seven persons were injured when a bomb went off in the parking lot of Gadkari Rangaytan auditorium in Thane, Maharashtra, on Wednesday evening.

The low intensity explosive wrapped in a plastic bag went off, shattering a portion of the ceiling and damaging some tube lights of the parking lot, Thane Police Commissioner Anil Dhere said.

"It seems to be a deliberate act of mischief," Dhere told PTI.

Initial reports suggest that the blast occurred just before the Marathi play Aamhi Paachpute was about to begin.

The explosion came within four days after the recovery of a low intensity explosive devise in Vashi's Vishnudas Bhave auditorium, a day ahead of the IPL finals at the D Y Patil Stadium in nearby Nerul in Navi Mumbai.

The explosive at Vashi, which was made up of gelatin sticks, was defused.

Some right wing organisations have claimed that the play Aamhi Paachpute ridicules the Hindu religion and hence, they have been targeting the play.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil got in touch with the Thane police officials, who informed him that a police team has already reached the site to ascertain the nature of the blast, sources in the state home department said.

The bomb was suspected to be planted on a bicycle in the parking lot.

Among the seven injured were four employees of the theatre who tried to remove the plastic bag kept on the bicycle, which triggered the explosion.

They have been admitted to the local hospital and said to be out of danger.

Additional Reportage: PTI