Crime branch will take over Mahajan case

MUMBAI: The crime branch of the city police will take over investigation into the Pramod Mahajan shooting case. Confirming this, a senior home department official told DNA: “This is not indicative of tardy work  on part of the Worli police. In fact, the closed circuit cameras installed at the police station would work against Pravin if his legal counsel subsequently tries to disown his statement.”

In his statement, Pravin stated, “Ever since (Pramod’s daughter) Poonam’s marriage to Anand Rao (over two years ago), Rao has been managing all financial matters. Since then, I have been insulted time and again.”

Pravin also said that when he shot his brother there was no one else in the room. While Rahul Mahajan was present in another room, Pramod Mahajan’s wife Rekha had gone into the kitchen.

The police are also investigating the angle of Pravin’s legal counsel, Nandkumar Rajurkar, having accompanied him in his car as he drove to Mahajan’s Worli residence.

This was because Rajurkar, who is also a resident of Thane and lives close to Pravin’s residence, reached Worli police station an hour after Pravin surrendered.

But police officers did not discount the fact that Rajurkar could have been informed by Pravin’s wife Sarangi about the shooting.

Rajurkar told DNA: “Even I could say that a senior police officer was travelling with Pravin in his car before the murder. Does that mean anything?”

Police have debunked speculation about Pravin having stated that his wife Sarangi was having trouble with Pramod.