Journalism of Courage
Pune police have arrested two persons for allegedly conspiring to place explosives and firearms in the car of Pimpri businessman Gopal Khatri (46),who was arrested by the Crime Branch on September 17. Police are looking for two others and probing the possibility of a political conspiracy in the case.
Suspects Rangnath Salve and Rajkiran Dabhade were arrested and produced in a magistrate court on Saturday. They were remanded in police custody till October 5. The other suspects Deepak Mevani and Deva Salve are yet to be arrested. All the four are from Pimpri-Chinchwad. A search has been launched for Mevani and Salve who are on the run after an offence was registered against them at Hinjewadi police station. All four have been booked under Sections of Arms Act,Explosives Substances Act,NDPS Act and the Indian Penal Code.
Acting on a tip-off,Crime Branch sleuths had arrested Khatri and seized about 1 kg explosive,eight detonators,three country-made revolvers,a pistol and live cartridges from his car.
Police submitted before the court that suspects Deva,Rangnath and Rajkiran kept the firearms and explosives in Khatris car as per instructions of Mevani. Police are now probing the motive of the suspects.
An investigation is on to know how the conspiracy was hatched and how the firearms and explosives were procured. Police suspect the involvement of more persons in the case.
A few days earlier,Khatris wife Sarita had said she had pointed fingers at Mevani as the conspirator. Demanding a probe by the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in this case,Sarita had said police should check fingerprints on the boot of the said car.
Police should also interrogate persons who had called my husband to hotel Ambience before the explosives were recovered. Police should also interrogate the persons who informed them about the explosives to know the facts, she had said.
