Pune Crime Files: Security guard shot dead at Pune university in 2012, case still unsolved; ‘arms dealer’ held but probed for Dabholkar murder

A team from the Chatushrungi police station, which was then headed by inspector Ajay Kadam, had rushed to the spot after receiving information about the shooting. Even as a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against the unidentified killer, Crime Branch officers also initiated a parallel probe into Jogdandkar’s murder. However, to date, the police have not been able to crack the case.

The probe by the police had hinted at the involvement of a young man who was caught by Jogdandkar with a woman in a compromising position at a secluded spot in the university, sometime before his murder. Jogdandkar was patrolling the university premises, along with a security guard Balasaheb Nikalje, when he spotted the couple.

Officials from the Chatushrungi police station speak to Savitribai Phule Pune University staff and security guards at the place where Prahlad Laxman Jogdandkar was shot

During the investigation, Nikalje reportedly told the police that Jogdandkar initially demanded Rs 5,000 from the couple to let them go, but settled for Rs 500. The man had, according to Nikalje, paid up and fled the spot on his motorcycle, along with the woman whom he kept calling “Anju”.

However, the man came back and asked Jogdandkar to return at least Rs 100, saying he needed it to pay for petrol. But, when Jogdandkar refused, the man allegedly fired two bullets at him and fled.

Meanwhile, a scared Nikalje fled and lost consciousness after stumbling and falling some distance from the murder spot. After he regained consciousness, he informed the university security office about the shooting. Subsequently, the information was shared with the police.

The police had questioned several girl students in the university who had the same name as the girl found with the murderer. They also appealed to other students to come forward if they had any information about the murder, assuring that their identity would be protected.

Nikalje was the only witness and “Anju” was never found. The police said Nikalje had given a vague description of “Anju”.

Unable to trace the killer, police had even announced a reward of Rs 25,000 to anyone who could provide information about the man who killed Jogdandkar. But there was no breakthrough.

Retired ACP Ajay Kadam said, “I was in my office when I got a call from a constable about the murder incident. Some security staff at the university had informed the police. We rushed to the spot. We found that the security guard had been shot in the chest next to the button of his uniform. There was a Rs 500 note in his closed fist. Some empty cartridges were found on the spot”.

“As part of the investigation, several clues were thoroughly looked into. All possible angles and theories were meticulously checked and exhausted. The case remains an open investigation,” said Kadam, who retired as an assistant commissioner of police (ACP).

Twists and turns:

On November 28, 2013, the police arrested alleged firearms dealers Manish Nagori alias Manya, then aged 24 years old, and Vilas Khandelwal, who was then aged 22 years, along with their aides Rahul Mali and Santosh Bagade claiming their involvement in the murder of Jogdandkar.

Defence lawyer advocate B A Aloor told the court the police have arrested the accused for the murder of Jogdandkar, but they were actually investigating them for the killing of Dr Narendra Dabholkar, who was gunned down in Pune by two men on August 20, 2013.

In December 2013, the Pune city police arrested Nagori, Khandelwal, and their aides again to investigate their alleged role in the murder of a 30-year-old unidentified man at Hinjewadi. In January 2014, the Pune city police formally arrested Nagori and Khandelwal for their alleged involvement in the Dabholkar murder case.

As per police records, Nagori, Khandelwal, and their aides were arrested by the Thane police Crime Branch in August 2013 for allegedly demanding extortion of Rs 15 lakh from a Mumbra-based businessman. In October 2013, the state Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested this “Nagori gang” in an Arms Act case.

The police claimed to have recovered as many as 47 firearms from Nagori and his aides. The Pune police claimed that a ballistic examination of one of those firearms reportedly suggested that it matched with the ‘markings’ on a cartridge seized in the Dabholkar murder.

However, the Dabholkar murder probe was later taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). During its investigation, the CBI never named Nagori and Khandelwal in the Dabholkar murder case. Their role in Jogdandkar’s murder was also not found.

When contacted, Ankush Chintaman, Inspector (Crime), Chaturshringi police station confirmed the Jogdandkar murder case remains undetected as of date.

Jogdandkar’s murder had exposed the flaws in security arrangements at the university like the absence of CCTV cameras at the entry and exit points of the over 400-acre premises. Following his murder, security arrangements in the university were upgraded.