RTI activist held for Sena leader’s murder

Right to Information activist Anil Waghmare, 33, has been arrested in connection with the murder of former Sena corporator Ashok Sawant, who was stabbed to death on Sunday night.

The police suspect that Waghmare is the mastermind behind the murder. "Waghmare was not present at the crime scene but he kept his eyes on the regular movements of Sawant for the last two months. We have arrested him from Byculla and he has been booked under sections of murder (302) and criminal conspiracy (120B)," said an officer attached to Samata Nagar police station.Kandivali resident Waghmare fled from his house after he learnt that police were after him. He had been changing his locations and was arrested from Byculla. The police knew of his involvement in Sawant's murder as he was in constant touch on phone with Jagdish Pawar, alias Jagga, a history-sheeter, who is still absconding.

Sawant was the trustee of a Kandivali (east) based school Samata Vidya Mandir. Sawant and Waghmare knew each other well but did not have good relations, said the police and added, "Waghmare had sought some crucial information about the school and a nearby Hall of MHADA through RTI. The chances are very high that Waghmare might have blackmailed Sawant, who was not willing to succumb to his pressure. We are probing what information Waghmare had sought through RTI."On Thursday, a 32-year-old Vishal Gaikwad was arrested from his house in Kalyan where the three assailants, including Jagdish Pawar, alias Jagga, his accomplice Abhijeet Mane and the 17-year-old juvenile took shelter after killing Sawant on Sunday night.

Until now, autorickshaw driver Ganesh Jogadand, Sohail Dodhia, Vishal Gaikwad and the RTI activist have been arrested in the case. Samata Nagar police detained the juvenile from his hometown in Pune on Tuesday. “Based on information given by the juvenile, we arrested Gaikwad who is accused of harbouring the trio at his house. Later, he drove them up to the station in his car. We have also seized the car. Further investigations are underway,” said a senior police officer.Investigators are checking if Gaikwad, who has been booked for harbouring offender (section 216 of IPC), has any past crime record.

Sawant was brutally stabbed to death by three assailants, including the juvenile, who tailed him for four hours in an autorickshaw in Kandivali on Sunday. Efforts are now being made to arrest Jagga and Mane.