BJYM Office-Bearer Named Prime Accused in Engineer's House Arson Case
In a shocking development from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) office-bearer from Jalna's Bhokardan has been identified as the prime accused in a case involving an alleged attempt to set fire to a civil engineer's residence. According to police statements, the preliminary investigation suggests this criminal act was orchestrated to coerce the 29-year-old engineer into withdrawing an earlier cheating complaint filed against the accused and four other individuals.
Details of the Arson Incident and FIR Registration
The case stems from a formal complaint lodged by civil engineer Sheikh Taleb, a resident of Mannat Mansion in Nakoda Nagar. Based on his account, an FIR has been registered at the Bhokardan police station against the BJYM office-bearer and an unidentified accomplice. The charges fall under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections 326(g), 324(4), 331, 62, and 3(5), covering offenses related to arson, causing hurt, and criminal intimidation.
Taleb, who works as a civil contractor, detailed in his February 11 complaint that he was away in Madhya Pradesh with his family on February 10. Around 8 a.m., a neighbor alerted him via phone that the exterior portion of his house had been set ablaze. Returning to Bhokardan the same night, Taleb reviewed CCTV footage, which allegedly captured two men arriving on a motorcycle at 1:54 a.m. He identified one of them as the BJYM office-bearer.
According to the complaint, the BJYM office-bearer is accused of pouring petrol from a green can onto the front of the house, after which the unidentified accomplice ignited it with a matchstick. The duo then fled the scene on their motorcycle. The fire damaged several articles kept at the entrance, though no injuries were reported.
Background of the Cheating Case and Police Investigation
Inspector Kiran Bidve stated that the preliminary investigation indicates the accused had been persistently pressuring the engineer to either withdraw the cheating case or turn hostile in court. "The engineer failed to comply. Since committing the alleged offence, the accused duo have been on the run. Our teams will soon arrest them," Bidve affirmed.
Police records reveal that in February 2024, Taleb had filed a complaint alleging that the BJYM office-bearer and others fraudulently opened a bank account in his name using forged signatures. They reportedly withdrew Rs 11,21,328 by encashing a cheque issued by the Bhokardan municipal council for Taleb's contractual work. Additionally, Taleb claimed he was threatened outside the Bhokardan court in February 2025 to withdraw this case, highlighting a pattern of intimidation.
BJYM's Response and Ongoing Police Efforts
BJYM Jalna district president Sampat Takle acknowledged the FIR, stating that the party has taken cognizance of the matter. "The suspect is BJYM's office-bearer from Bhokardan. We will inquire into the matter and, depending on the findings, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with the party's policies," Takle said.
The police have confirmed that efforts are underway to trace both accused individuals, who remain at large. This case underscores serious allegations of criminal behavior linked to political affiliations, with authorities emphasizing their commitment to a thorough investigation and swift justice.
