2 lawyers among 8 held for killing gangster Sharad Mohol in Pune

The police said Sahil worked for Mohol. He and his accomplices had kept a watch on Mohol for the last few days. Since he was an associate and nobody doubted him, he and his aides managed to attack Mohol from point blank range.

The other accused persons have been identified as Namdev Mahipati Kangude, 35, of Bhugaon in Mulshi, Amit alias Amar Maruti Kangude, 24, of Swrajya Mitra Mandal in Parvati, Chandrakant Shahu Shelke, 22, of Janta Vasahat in Parvati, Vinayak Santosh Gavhankar, 20, of Paud in Mulshi, Vitthal Kisan Gandle, 34, of Sutardara in Kothrud, advocate Ravindra Vasatrao Pawar, 40, of Nandegaon in Mulshi and advocate Sanjay Rambhau Udan, 43, of Bhusari Colony in Kothrud.

Sleuths of the Crime Branch arrested the eight accused near Shirwal on the Pune-Satara highway in two cars. The police seized three country-made pistols, three magazines, five live cartridges and eight cell phones from their possession.

The police said the probe revealed that the accused killed Mohol following a previous financial dispute with him.

Mohol’s aide Arun Dhumal, 32, has lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at the Kothrud police station.

The police said it was Mohol’s marriage anniversary on Friday. He left his office in Sutardara along with his wife and was about to sit in his car to pay a visit to the Dagdusheth Halwai Ganesh Temple when the assailants attacked him.

CCTV footage of the incident shows the assailants pulled out pistols and shot him in the back and then as he turned around, they pumped bullets into his head and shoulders. The 39-year-old gangster slumped to the ground immediately while the assailants fled the spot after firing at least four rounds.

Mohol was rushed to a hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead soon after.

The probe revealed that after the murder, the accused persons fled towards Satara via the Mumbai-Bangalore highway in cars. Accordingly, nine police teams launched a massive search operation and nabbed the eight accused.

The police have booked the assailants under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Arms Act.