The double murder came on the heels of Congress leader Vishal Kotkar winning the civic bypoll for the Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation.
The arrest of NCP legislator Sangram Jagtap and BJP legislator Shivajirao Kardile along with 31 others — in the Shiv Sena leaders Sanjay Kotkar and Vasant Thube murder case in Ahmednagar district — has brought to surface a nexus between party leaders of all hue and colour.
The double murder came on the heels of Congress leader Vishal Kotkar winning the civic bypoll for the Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation. Police suspect political enmity and dispute over financial transactions to be the main motive. They have set up a special investigation team to probe it.
Jagtap is the son in law of Kardile, who had deserted NCP to join BJP in 2009. Incidentally, Jagtap's father Arun is the NCP legislator in the Maharashtra Legislative Council and may be interrogated in connection with the double murder case.
Kardile's daughter was the former deputy mayor of the Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation and the wife of former mayor Sandeep Kotkar, who is the son of Congress leader Bhanudas Kotkar.
Kardile, Jagtap, and Kotkar have been dominant players in the taluka and civic body politics of Ahmednagar. They are all connected to the politically crucial cooperative sector, as Ahmednagar district has more than 25 sugar factories and vibrant milk collection systems.
Besides Kardile and Jagtap, police have arrested Congress leader Vishal Kotkar, who won the Kedgaon bypoll, his father Balasaheb Kotkar, Sandeep Gunjal, and Bhanudas Kotkar, under Section 302 and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. They were produced before a local court, which remanded them in police custody till April 12.
Kardile and Bhanudas Kotkar were named in the murder of lottery-ticket businessman Ashok Lande in 2008. Although Kardile was acquitted, Bhanudas Kotkar and his three sons, Sandeep, Amol, and Sachin, were handed life sentences by the Sessions court for their role in the murder. In February this year, Bhanudas was granted bail by the Bombay High Court.
These arrests have sparked a verbal duel between Shiv Sena and NCP.
Other Case
- Shivajirao Kardile and Bhanudas Kotkar were named in the murder of lottery-ticket businessman Ashok Lande in 2008. Although Kardile was acquitted, Kotkar and his three sons, Sandeep, Amol, and Sachin, were handed life sentences by the Sessions court for their role in the murder.
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