Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday met the family members of Mangesh Kalokhe, the 45-year-old husband of newly elected Khopoli municipal councillor Mansi Kalokhe in Raigad district, who was brutally murdered on December 26. Shinde promised strict action against those responsible for the murder.
Mangesh Kalokhe was attacked with sharp weapons and murdered by a group of assailants, barely days after the civic election results were declared.
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During his visit, Shinde said he “stood firmly with the Kalokhe family” and that “no one will be spared”. The family members demanded that the accused be booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and awarded the harshest punishment.
“I’m personally monitoring the case. Such incidents should never be repeated. Those behind the crime will be dealt with strictly,” Shinde told the family.
The Raigad police have registered an FIR against 10 people in connection with the murder. Among those named is NCP Raigad district president Sudhakar Ghare. The police have arrested the main accused, Ravindra Devkar, and his son Darshan Devkar.
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Eight special teams were formed under the supervision of Raigad SP Achal Dalal to track down the accused. The Devkars were intercepted and detained near Nagothane on Saturday morning.
The murder has sharply escalated political tensions in the district. Shiv Sena MLA Mahendra Thorve alleged the killing was premeditated and part of “revenge politics” following the municipal election results. He went a step further, accusing NCP state president Sunil Tatkare of being the “strongman of Raigad” and claimed the conspiracy was hatched at Tatkare’s residence.
Tatkare rejected the allegations, calling the murder a “cruel and condemnable incident,” and said it should not be politicised. “Let the police investigate thoroughly and take appropriate action,” he said in a brief response.
Mansi Kalokhe won from Ward No. 3 of the Khopoli Municipal Council, defeating NCP’s candidate by a margin of over 700 votes.
“I’m personally monitoring the case,” Eknath Shinde told the family. (File photo) 
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