In a dramatic afternoon attack, a key accused in the 2012 Pune serial bomb blast case was shot dead in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar district on Wednesday. The victim, identified as Aslam Shabbir Shaikh alias Bunti Jahagirdar (52), was gunned down by unidentified assailants outside a crematorium in Shrirampur town.
The Fatal Attack and Immediate Aftermath
According to police officials, the incident occurred around 2:15 PM on January 1, 2026. Jahagirdar, who was currently out on bail, had just attended a ritual at the crematorium and was leaving on a two-wheeler. At that moment, two unidentified persons opened fire at him using pistols. After sustaining multiple bullet injuries, Jahagirdar collapsed on the spot. The assailants swiftly fled the scene on a motorcycle.
A police team rushed to the location after receiving information. The injured man was first taken to Shrirampur's Sakhar Kamgar Hospital but was later shifted to a private hospital for advanced treatment. Somnath Gharge, Superintendent of Police for Ahilyanagar, confirmed that Jahagirdar succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Police Investigation and Criminal Profile of the Victim
An FIR for murder has been registered at the Shrirampur police station. Initial investigative steps included checking CCTV cameras from nearby locations. Police have obtained blurry images of the two suspects and the number plate of their motorcycle. Teams have been dispatched to track down the assailants.
SP Gharge stated, "The assailants are unidentified. Prima-facie, it is suspected that two persons opened fire. Attempts are on to confirm the motive behind the murder. Different possibilities are being probed." The probe is examining whether the killing was due to a previous rivalry or other reasons.
Jahagirdar was a notorious figure with a long criminal record. Police records show he was booked in 18 offences, with allegations ranging from illegal sand mining and extortion to murder and terrorism. Due to his alleged criminal activities, he faced externment orders from the Ahilyanagar police. He was also active in local politics; his mother was a former NCP member of the Shrirampur Municipal Council, and his cousin was recently elected as a councillor.
Connection to the 2012 Pune Terror Case and Legal Journey
Jahagirdar's name was prominently linked to the Jangli Maharaj (JM) Road serial bomb blast case of August 1, 2012. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested him in January 2013. The ATS probe indicated the low-intensity blasts, which injured one person, were carried out on instructions from fugitive Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorist Riyaz Bhatkal. The motive was reportedly revenge for the murder of alleged IM operative Qateel Siddiqui in Pune's Yerwada jail in June 2012.
The ATS alleged that Jahagirdar supplied three pistols and ammunition to other accused in the case for avenging Siddiqui's murder and plotting assassinations. He was charged under sections of the IPC, UAPA, Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act.
His legal journey saw multiple bail grants and cancellations. The Bombay High Court first granted him bail on October 1, 2015, noting his connection to the conspiracy appeared "far-fetched." After a bail violation in 2019, he surrendered. He was again granted bail in January 2023, with the HC observing he had undergone nearly six years as an undertrial. Special Public Prosecutor Vaibhav Bagade confirmed the trial in the bomb blast case is ongoing, with prosecution witnesses being examined.
Jahagirdar had also been arrested under the Officials Secret Act in Nashik in 2006 for allegedly leaking Army information. The shooting has created a tense atmosphere in Shrirampur, with several local politicians visiting the hospital after the attack.
