A judicial magistrate in Shrirampur has sent two men to police custody until January 6 for the alleged murder of Aslam Shabbir Sheikh, also known as Bunty Jagirdar, a figure linked to the 2012 Pune serial bomb blasts case. The 53-year-old was shot dead in a brazen daylight attack on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the Ahilyanagar district town.
The Fatal Attack and Immediate Aftermath
The incident occurred around 2:50 PM on Wednesday near Santluk Hospital. Sheikh, a resident of Shrirampur, was returning home on a scooter with an associate, Amin Gulab Sheikh, after visiting a relative's grave. Two assailants on a motorcycle opened fire, critically injuring Aslam Sheikh. He later succumbed to his bullet wounds at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where the autopsy was conducted. His associate, Amin, remains hospitalized but is reported to be out of danger.
Based on a complaint filed by the victim's cousin and local councillor, Raees Abdulgani Sheikh, the Shrirampur city police registered a case under sections 103 (murder), 109 (abetment) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with provisions of the Arms Act. Raees alleged that the killing was the result of long-standing political enmity, citing Sheikh's growing influence in local politics and his role in recent elections as potential motives.
Arrests, Identities, and a Town in Mourning
Ahilyanagar Superintendent of Police Somnath Gharge confirmed that three individuals were booked and two were arrested for their direct involvement in the firing. The two accused, identified as Krushna Shingare and Ravindra Nikalje (both 23 and residents of Shrirampur), were seen fleeing the spot on a motorcycle in CCTV footage. They later surrendered before the Shirdi police and were subsequently arrested by Shrirampur police. The police revealed that Nikalje already had a case registered against him under BNS Section 326 about three years prior.
In response to the killing, residents of Shrirampur observed a bandh (shutdown) on Thursday. Security was heightened with the deployment of two companies of the State Reserve Police Force, and social media was monitored to curb rumors. Inspector Nitin Deshmukh stated that the situation remained peaceful, and markets reopened after Sheikh's funeral at 4 PM.
A Controversial Past and Legal Battles
Aslam Sheikh's history was marked by legal controversies. He was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in January 2013 for allegedly supplying arms to suspects in the August 2012 coordinated low-intensity blasts on Pune's JM Road. While he had 17 FIRs registered against him since 1997, his cousin Raees claimed he was socially and politically active and had been acquitted in 13 cases.
The Bombay High Court, while granting him bail in October 2015, noted the difficulty in prima facie concluding his guilt based on the material available and mentioned his incarceration of over two-and-a-half years. Sheikh faced further legal challenges, being named in four cases during the 2017 Shrirampur riots. Although his bail was cancelled in 2019, the High Court granted him bail again in October 2022 after establishing his alibi.
Sheikh is survived by an elder brother, a sister, and six daughters. His mother, Raziya Bi Jagirdar, was a two-term councillor. The family maintains a political presence, with Raees's wife winning a bypoll after Raziya's death and Raees himself being elected councillor in recent polls. During the last assembly elections, Sheikh had supported the winning Congress candidate.
Deputy SP Jaydutta Bhavar indicated that the investigation is ongoing, and the possibility of more arrests cannot be ruled out as police delve deeper into the motives and connections behind the assassination.
