Police arrest third accused

Identified as Praneet Bhoir, he was the one who drove the car from Vikhroli to Panvel, where Rajeshwar Udani was killed

Many theories have been floated since Rajeshwar Udani’s body was found in a decomposed state in Panvel. It was speculated that the motivating factor for the conspiracy to kill Udani was the latter's eyeing of Sachin’s live-in girlfriend, television actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee

The Pant Nagar police arrested a third accused in connection with the murder of the Ghatkopar diamond merchant Rajeshwar Udani, 57, on Monday. The accused, identified as Praneet Bhoir, was the one who drove the car from Vikhroli to Panvel, where Udani was killed.

Police said Bhoir, a resident of Panvel was an accomplice of the suspended cop Dinesh Pawar in the crime. A police source said, since Bhoir was a local of Panvel, he knew of spots where a body could be disposed of easily. It was on Bhoir’s instructions that Dinesh had decided to dump Udani’s body near Dehrang dam. Bhoir’s role in the case was established after police questioned Sachin Pawar, the former personal assistant of a minister. Sachin revealed Dinesh had help from Bhoir, on the basis of which the latter was arrested by police on Monday.

Akhilesh Singh, deputy commissioner of police (Zone 7) said, “We have arrested the third accused in the case. He was present in the car at the time of murder and we believe that he was the one driving the vehicle and helped the other accused to dispose the body at Panvel.

Further investigation of the case is in progress and he will be produced in Vikhroli court on Tuesday”.

According to police sources, Bhoir was an acquaintance of the suspended constable and gym instructor Dinesh.

He supplied gym equipment to Dinesh and the duo were friends, said police.

Three days after Sachin and Dinesh were arrested for killing Udani, police remained mum on the murder motive. Many theories have been floated since Udani’s body was found in a decomposed state in Panvel. It was speculated that the motivating factor for the conspiracy to kill Udani was the latter's eyeing of Sachin’s live-in girlfriend, television actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee.

Police believe Sachin had planned the whole murder and asked Dinesh to execute it. DCP Singh said, “The motive behind the murder is being investigated and exactly who was inside the car is yet to be established. Investigation revealed Udani was honeytrapped with the help of a sex worker, who had no clue he was going to be killed. The sex worker was hired for an acting job, in which she was asked to act in a prank video featuring Udani.”

TV actress Bhattacharjee, who had been summoned for questioning on Monday, was quizzed for five hours. Bhattacharjee’s advocate Falguni Brahmbhatt said, “My client had no direct connection to Udani. It was Sachin's contact which got the duo introduced. Speaking on the matter which is under investigation is inappropriate at the moment but she has nothing to do with the murder and the same has been informed to the police.”

Moreover, Dinesh Pawar, who had allegedly raped a minor girl in 2014, for which he was arrested on Friday, was again arrested in the Udani murder case on Monday. He will be produced in Vikhroli court on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the sessions court has dropped the charges of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and booked him for rape (Section 376) and murder (Section 302) of the Indian Penal Code in two different cases.