Police in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar district have secured an extended remand for four individuals arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a man who was an accused in the decade-old Pune serial bomb blasts case. The court granted investigators three more days of police custody.
Court Grants Extended Custody for Deeper Probe
On Tuesday, a judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) court in Shrirampur extended the police custody of all four accused by three days, until January 9. The accused were produced before the court via video conference after their initial periods of police custody ended. The prosecution successfully argued for more time, citing the need to establish the motive and recover further evidence.
The victim, identified as 53-year-old Aslam Shabbir Sheikh, also known as Bunty Jahagirdar, was shot dead on the afternoon of January 31. The attack occurred near St. Luke's Hospital in Shrirampur while he was returning home from a graveyard.
Key Recoveries and Investigative Challenges
Investigators told the court they have made a significant breakthrough by recovering the motorcycle believed to have been used in the crime. Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Jaydatta Bhawar stated the bike is suspected to have been used for reconnaissance and movement before and after the shooting.
The motorcycle will now undergo a forensic examination to check for fingerprints, trace evidence, and other materials that could corroborate the sequence of events pieced together by the police.
However, SDPO Bhawar noted that the probe faces hurdles. "At present, we are working to ascertain the motive behind the murder and also to find out whether others are involved. So far, the arrested accused are trying to mislead the investigation by giving different versions of the story," he said.
Arrests, Allegations, and Ongoing Investigation
The police action unfolded in two phases. The two alleged shooters were arrested on January 1, while two other accused, who allegedly acted as "watchers," were taken into custody on January 3. The complaint in the case was filed by Jahagirdar's cousin and local councillor, Raees Abdulgani Sheikh, who alleged the killing was a well-planned conspiracy involving several persons.
Police have registered the case under sections 103 (murder), 109 (abetment) and 3(5) (organised crime) of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with relevant provisions of the Arms Act. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of more arrests as the investigation progresses.
According to earlier police submissions to the court, the shooters used two foreign-made pistols of different calibres. The other two accused allegedly tracked Jahagirdar's movements and provided real-time location updates to the assailants.
Beyond physical evidence, the investigation is leaning heavily on digital forensics. Officers are conducting a technical analysis of multiple mobile phones and SIM cards seized from the accused. "Call data records and location mapping will play a key role in establishing the conspiracy and fixing individual roles," an officer familiar with the probe stated.
