Sleuths of the Anti-Gang Cell of the local crime branch led by inspector Chandansingh Bayas, on Friday, nabbed three accused allegedly involved in the robbery at Digras’ sitting Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Rathod residence after kidnapping his watchman and murdering him.
Two accused gang members are still absconding with the four-wheeler used in the crime, but the tip-off received from those already arrested indicate that they belong to the MLA’s own camp.
Two of their accomplices, who are still at large with the vehicle, are acquaintances of the MLA and their motive can be ascertained only after nabbing them. The police have identified the absconding duo, but their names have not been disclosed since it may affect the investigation, Superintendent of Police Ranjan Kumar Sharma told reporters
after their arrest today.
The robbery was committed on January 17 when the gangsters reached the Mainde junction residence of MLA Sanjay
Rathod when he and his family were not at home.
They called out watchman Laxman Sakharam Thengre (60), stuffed clothes into his mouth, kidnapped him to Kinhi
village, 15 km away from the city and murdered him. His body was thrown into a defunct poultry farm.
Later, they returned to the MLA’s house, looted Rs 1.10 lakh in cash and escaped.
We interrogated more than 100 suspects and finally set our hands on Jitesh, who gave us the names of others after
interrogation,” Sharma said.
The arrested trio has confessed to looting Rs 1.09 lakh in cash from the MLA’s house and the watchman’s murder,
Sharma said.
———————————–PTI