Thane Police Form SIT To Probe Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader Pradeep Purnekar Murder
The Thane police have formed a Special Investigation Team to investigate the murder of Shiv Sena (UBT) division head Pradeep Purnekar, who was shot and stabbed to death inside his office in the Manpada area of Thane on September 29, officials confirmed on Thursday.
Thane Police Commissioner Ashutosh Dumbare announced that the SIT will be headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Amarsinh Jadhav. The specialised team also comprises two assistant commissioners of police, an inspector, and a sub-inspector. Along with the formation of the probe team, police have detained six individuals, including two women, for questioning.
Five people have been formally booked in connection with the killing: Prakash alias Papya Shinde, Santosh Kanaujiya, Nitesh Pawar, Nikhil Yadav, and an unidentified person. Papya Shinde is the only suspect arrested so far, while the other four remain absconding. Investigators have tracked down and seized two two-wheelers that were allegedly used by the assailants to escape after carrying out the attack.
According to police officials, Papya Shinde was inside Purnekar's office at the time of the attack and transported the injured leader to the hospital. Investigators grew suspicious when they noticed Papya was completely unhurt despite four to five gunshots being fired at the scene. The victim's son, Ram Purnekar, alleged that Papya carried out a recce of his father's office a day before the crime. Santosh Shirke, a supporter of Purnekar, noted that Papya was a childhood friend of the victim but had joined the rival Meenakshi Shinde faction ahead of the civic elections in January.
Police also questioned Shiv Sena corporator and former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde and her husband, Rajendra Shinde, on Thursday after Ram alleged they orchestrated the murder due to political rivalry. Denying the accusations, Meenakshi Shinde stated that she was outside the city, had not visited the police or received any summons, and labelled the allegations baseless.
In a letter submitted to the crime branch, Ram further claimed that a woman present at the scene may have participated in the conspiracy and reported that suspects Santosh Kanojia and Nitesh Pawar visited the neighbourhood for four days prior to the attack under the pretext of playing cards. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray visited the Purnekar family in Thane on Thursday, pledging full support and demanding that investigators promptly file a charge sheet against all perpetrators.
