Levhe murder 8212; Two more arrested

SATARA, SEPT 21: The State Crime Investigation Department sleuths told chief judicial magistrate here on Monday that nabbing of four more...

SATARA, SEPT 21: The State Crime Investigation Department sleuths told chief judicial magistrate here on Monday that nabbing of four more suspects would complete the arrests in connection with the killing of a supporter of Nationalist Congress Party and municipal member Sharad Levhe. With two more arrests on Monday, the sleuths have captured 11 of the 15 accused in the sensational political murder in the State8217;s sugar bowl.

The identity of the four missing youths have been established, the court was told.

Abhijit Jadhav and Mohan More were picked up from the town8217;s Mangalwar Peth area and were later remanded to the police custody till Monday next.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Kamal Vadgaonkar also extended the police custody for Amar Bhande, Moreshwar Chowkwale, Vyankappa Hayyal and Bharat Sangade till next Monday. She awarded magisterial custody for four other accomplices of main suspect in the case, former minister of state Udayanraje Bhosale for 15 days.

In his complaint the driver of the deceased had named Yadu Narkar, Prashant Narkar, Sushil Mojhar and Sanhay Deshmukh besides Udayanraje.

Meanwhile, a revision petition moved by the State CID seeking police custody for the former minister will come up for hearing in the district and sessions court on Tuesday. Udyanraje, 13th descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji, was awarded magisterial custody till September 23 after he was arrested on the charge of murdering Sharad Levhe in the wee hours of September 11.

Udayanraje was later admitted the intensive care unit at the Civil Hospital here after he complained of chest pain and fluctuating blood pressure.

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The Chief Judicial Magistrate here already has directed the civil surgeon to submit a report by a panel of experts on Udayanraje8217;s health.

Earlier, CID counsel Ashok Ponkshe sought police custody for the accused. He told the court that two swords and a few blood-soaked clothes were seized from Amar Bhande and Sushil Mojhar. Three vehicles used for the crime have also been seized, he said.

Arrests of Raju Nalawade, Santosh Lotterywala, Vijay Shelke and Chandu Raut would complete the arrests in the case, as the investigations have established involvement of 15 persons in the crime, the CID counsel informed the court. The sleuths also have recorded statements of about 20 eyewitnesses while a few more statements were to be recorded, he added.

The additional government pleader also told the court that a sand supplier Dilip Kurhade was the target of the mob and not Levhe. At a press conference only a few days before the incident Kurhade had levelled certain allegations against Udayanraje Bhosale.