In a significant development, the Raigad police have apprehended eight individuals in connection with the brutal murder of former Khopoli municipal councillor, Mangesh Kalokhe. The 45-year-old victim was the husband of the newly elected Shiv Sena councillor from Khopoli, Manasi Kalokhe.
Political Rivalry at the Heart of the Crime
The list of those arrested points directly at intense political rivalry. Among the eight accused is Urmila Devkar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate who lost the recent Khopoli council election to Manasi Kalokhe by a margin of approximately 700 votes. Also arrested were her husband Ravindra Devkar, their sons Dhanesh and Darshan, and four party supporters identified as Vishal Deshmukh, Dilip Pawar, Mahesh Dhaitadak, and Sagar More.
Disturbingly, the victim's relatives have alleged that Mangesh Kalokhe had approached the Khopoli police in-charge, Sachin Hire, on December 25 to report a death threat from Devkar's supporters. However, no First Information Report (FIR) or even a non-cognisable offence was registered by the local police at that time.
The Grisly Attack and Police Manhunt
The murder took place on Friday morning. Mangesh Kalokhe was ambushed by assailants waiting in a black car while he was returning home on his two-wheeler after dropping his daughter at school. He was hacked to death in the attack.
Following the crime, the Raigad police launched an intensive 26-hour search operation involving eight teams, including the local crime branch. This effort led them to Nagothane, where they arrested the prime suspects, Ravindra Devkar and his son Darshan, for their alleged role in the murder conspiracy.
Police teams are still searching for other identified accused, who include prominent local NCP figures: Raigad district NCP president Sudhakar Ghare, the party's local spokesperson Bharat Bhagat, activist Sachin Chavan, and a bouncer employed by Ravindra Devkar.
Accused Leader Claims Alibi
In a twist, Sudhakar Ghare has publicly denied any involvement. He posted a video on social media claiming he has no connection to the murder. Ghare stated that around 7 am on Friday, when the crime occurred, he was already on his way to the airport to catch a 10 am flight to Ahmedabad to attend a Jain community religious function. He asserted that he would return from Ahmedabad to cooperate with the investigation since his name has been included in the case.
Assurances of Swift Justice
The case has drawn high-level political attention. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde personally met the grieving relatives of Mangesh Kalokhe. He assured the family that the government would ensure the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) is invoked against the accused. Furthermore, he promised that the case would be escalated to a fast-track court to deliver speedy justice.
The arrests have sent shockwaves through the political circles of Khopoli and Raigad district, highlighting how electoral defeat can sometimes spiral into extreme violence. The investigation continues as police pursue the remaining fugitives.
