Did inspector Vijay Palande kin threaten owner to hand over Mercedes?

Inspector Sanjay Shinde of the crime branch is in trouble.

While he is already under scanner for his alleged role in helping distant relative Vijay Palande escape from custody, the police are also investigating if he had threatened Karnataka-based businessman Gurudutt Jaidev to hand over his Mercedes to Palande.

Palande is the prime accused in the murders of businessman Arun Tikku and lyricist Karan Kakkar.

On April 7, Palande had reportedly taken Tikku’s son Anuj to Goa in the Mercedes “to party” so that his two associates could bump off Arun Tikku at his Oshiwara flat. Palande was eyeing Tikku’s property.

Jaidev had met Palande through a common friend, Parag.  “Palande had offered to help Jaidev start a fitness centre and advised him to buy a Mercedes to attract high-end customers. When the fitness centre never came up, Jaidev realised that he had been conned,” said a police officer.

A few days before his arrest, Palande, Shinde, Parag and Jaidev met at a mall. Jaidev reportedly told Palande to return his Mercedes, but Palande and Shinde refused and threatened him with dire consequences.

“We are verifying this information. If it is found that any of our officers had any role in supporting Palande, strict action will be taken against him,” said a senior police officer.