In a significant development in the politically charged murder case of Shiv Sena councillor Manasi Kalokhe's husband, the Navi Mumbai police have made a ninth arrest. The victim, Mangesh Kalokhe, was brutally hacked to death with sharp weapons in Khopoli on Friday morning. The investigation has unveiled deep political rivalries linked to recent local elections.
Expanding Net of Arrests and Political Links
Sachin Kharade is the latest individual to be taken into custody. Senior Inspector Sachin Hire of Khopoli police station confirmed that the hunt is still on for two more accused, including a minor, identified from the statements of those already arrested. The assailants, totaling five, allegedly include Darshan Devkar, the elder son of a key arrested accused, Ravindra Devkar.
The murder is steeped in political context. Ravindra Devkar's wife, Urmila, was defeated by Manasi Kalokhe in the recent Khopoli municipal council election. Other high-profile names from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have surfaced in the First Information Report (FIR). These include Sudhakar Ghare (NCP Raigad district president from Karjat), Bharat Bhagat (NCP's Raigad district spokesperson), and NCP supporter Sachin Chavan, who are currently being traced.
Claims of Alibi and Escalating Political Tensions
Amid the manhunt, Sudhakar Ghare posted a video on social media on Saturday, vehemently denying any involvement. He claimed he had left his Karjat home for a flight to Ahmedabad at 10 am on Friday for a Jain religious program, predating the murder which occurred around 7 am in Khopoli. He expressed willingness to cooperate with the police probe.
However, the political fallout is intensifying. Mahendra Thorve, Shiv Sena MLA of Karjat, revealed chilling details on Sunday. He stated that arrested accused Mahesh Dhayatdak, Ravindra Devkar's bodyguard, assaulted Mangesh Kalokhe about 13 times with a lethal weapon, an act captured on CCTV. Dhayatdak's social media suggests an association with Walmik Karad, a prime accused in the December 9 murder of Beed district sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.
Thorve issued a stern warning, stating that if the wanted accused are not arrested immediately, a large mob of Shiv Sena supporters will stage a candle march from the crime spot to Khopoli police station on Monday, December 29. The protest will continue until the arrest of Sudhakar Ghare, Bharat Bhagat, Sachin Chavan, and two others.
High-Level Assurances and List of Accused
In response to the escalating situation, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has assured that the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) will be invoked against the accused. He also promised that the murder trial will be held in a fast-track court with a special public prosecutor appointed for the case.
The list of those arrested so far includes NCP leader Ravindra Devkar, his wife Urmila, their sons Darshan and Dhanesh, and NCP supporters Vishal Deshmukh, Mahesh Dhaitadak (bodyguard), Sagar More, Dilip Pawar, and Sachin Kharade.
Meanwhile, NCP (Ajit Pawar group) Raigad Lok Sabha MP Sunil Tatkare has extended support to the wanted accused Sudhakar Ghare and Bharat Bhagat, claiming they are not linked to the murder despite being named in the FIR. The case continues to expose the volatile intersection of crime and local politics in the region.
