In a significant development in a high-profile political murder case, the Raigad police have arrested two more accused contract killers, one week after apprehending nine individuals for the brutal killing of Mangesh Kalokhe. Kalokhe was the husband of newly elected Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) councillor from Khopoli, Manasi Kalokhe. However, one key contract killer remains at large, complicating the investigation.
The Gruesome Morning Attack
The murder, which has sent shockwaves through the region, occurred on December 26. Mangesh Kalokhe (45) was hacked to death around 7 am at a busy junction in Khopoli. He was returning home on his motorcycle after dropping his two daughters at school. According to police reports, five assailants, armed with swords, a sickle, and an axe, were waiting for him in a black car and launched the fatal attack.
Political Rivalry as Motive: A Conspirator Confesses
Raigad Superintendent of Police Anchal Dalal revealed crucial details about the motive behind the crime. The arrested key conspirator, Ravindra Devkar, is the husband of Urmila Devkar, a leader from the NCP (Ajit Pawar) faction. Urmila Devkar was defeated by Manasi Kalokhe in the recent Khopoli municipal council election.
SP Dalal stated that Ravindra Devkar has confessed to hiring three contract killers to execute the murder due to this political rivalry. The group of five assailants included Devkar's elder son Darshan Devkar, his bodyguard Mahesh Dhaitadak, and the three hired killers. Police have now arrested two of these contract killers and are tracing the third.
Probing the Conspiracy: Names of Senior NCP Leaders Surface
The investigation is now delving deeper into the conspiracy. SP Dalal confirmed that the police are probing the potential involvement of two other individuals named in the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Kalokhe's nephew. These individuals are Sudhakar Ghare, the Raigad district NCP President, and NCP spokesperson Bharat Bhagat.
"Until the key contract killer is arrested, the role of Ghare and Bhagat in the murder conspiracy cannot be confirmed," clarified SP Dalal, indicating that the full picture of the plot is yet to emerge.
The nine accused arrested within 48 hours of the murder included:
- Ravindra Devkar (main conspirator)
- Urmila Devkar (his wife & political rival)
- Their sons Darshan and Dhanesh Devkar
- NCP supporters Vishal Deshmukh, Dilip Pawar, Sagar More, and Sachin Kharade
- Bodyguard Mahesh Dhaitadak
Police are also tracing one more accused named in the FIR, identified as activist Sachin Chavan. The case highlights the intense and sometimes violent nature of local political rivalries in the region.
