Sena leader Konde held for murder

PUNE, Oct 4: A Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Housing Area Development Authority member Sanjay Sadashiv Konde was arrested yesterday al...

PUNE, Oct 4: A Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Housing Area Development Authority member Sanjay Sadashiv Konde was arrested yesterday along with his father, brother and a friend on charge of murdering Congress worker and president of Shukrawar Peth-based Vanraj Ganesh Mandal, Vijay Vasantrao Takawale.

Sanjay 34, his father Sadashiv Sakharam Konde 59, brother Dhananjay 36 and friend Abhijit Tanaji Jadhav 19 were arrested by inspector in charge of Khadak police station Vishwasrao Patil around 1.25 p.m. on Saturday, according to the police.

The four-some are suspected to have murdered Takawale over long-standing political rivalry. Sanjay, deputy chief of the Pune district unit of the Shiv Sena, and his accomplices allegedly eliminated Takawale because Takawale8217;s influence was increasing in Shukrawar Peth during the past decade, the police said.

Takawale was found hacked to death on Shivaji Road early on September 25 morning. An autorickshaw driver had noticed Takawale8217;s blood-soaked body lying in front of Vanraj Ganesh Mandal8217;s temple near Yadav Vyapar Bhavan around 6.30 a.m.

Takawale, who had left his house for his stationery shop located near the Shivaji Maratha School, was apparently killed while performing the daily pooja. He bore several deep stab wounds on his head, face, stomach and legs.

Takawale8217;s cousin had filed a first information report FIR at the Khadak police station expressing the suspicion that the murder was a fallout of political rivalry. Investigators suspected Sanjay Konde8217;s involvement as he had a long-standing rivalry with Takawale.

Sanjay, Dhananjay, Sadashiv and Abhijit had moved an application before additional sessions judge V.R. Londhe seeking anticipatory bail on September 28. The additional sessions judge had rejected the application.

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Arguing against bail, additional public prosecutor S.W. Shripad had said that some people had told the police that they had seen Abhijit and two others speeding off on a scooter.