Diamond merchant’s murder: Two arrested on Saturday

Former PA of housing min and a suspended constable held

The Pant Nagar Police have arrested two persons on Saturday in connection with the murder of diamond merchant Rajeshwar Udani, 57.

The arrested accused have been identified as Sachin Pawar, the former personal assistant of Prakash Mehta, the state housing minister, and suspended constable Dinesh Pawar. A police team picked up Sachin from Nainital, while Dinesh was picked up from Mumbai. The Pant Nagar Police have also recorded the statement of a TV actress, Devoleena Bhattacharjee, along with three other girls, who are suspected of having a role in the murder.

According to police sources, Sachin was in the business with Udani, as both wanted to venture in the entertainment industry. Even though Sachin is not in contact with Mehta, he continues to be an active member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

A police officer said that call data records (CDR) revealed Sachin had called 13 times on the day Udani disappeared. On the basis of this information, police had earlier questioned Sachin but since they had no concrete evidence against him, they let him go. Police also seized Sachin’s white car, which they suspect was used to commit the crime.

Acting on suspicion, police had sent a team in mufti, to tail Sachin in Nainital. “On November 28, when Udani had gone missing, Sachin’s CDR shows his location in Panvel, where Udani’s body was found in a decomposed state,” the police officer said.

Manjunath Singe, deputy commissioner of police (operations) said, “Our officers are still conducting enquiries. Only when these are complete, a suitable decision will be taken.” Police suspect there were two motives behind Udani's murder- a financial dispute and Udani having bad intentions for Sachin's female friend.

During investigation, Sachin revealed he had help from Dinesh Pawar, who was suspended from police force as a rape case was registered against him. Meanwhile, as part of their investigation, Pant Nagar Police had detained TV actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee for questioning. The CDR revealed that Udani had contacted Bhattacharjee many times.

Sachin was a booth coordinator for BJP in 2009. In 2012, he contested the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections as an Independent. Thereafter, he was thrown out of the party. In 2017, his wife Sakshi contested on a BJP ticket. After his wife's candidature was finalised, it was ghar wapsi for Sachin.

Udani, a resident of Mahalaxmi Apartments in Ghatkopar (W), had left the house on November 28 afternoon with his driver. However, he changed cars on the Eastern Express Highway at Vikhroli and asked his driver to go back home. Udani’s phone location revealed that he had travelled till Rabale Bridge in Panvel City, after which his phone was switched off. The following day, Udani’s son, Ronak, approached Pant Nagar Police and registered a missing persons complaint. Nine days after Udani went missing, his body was identified by his son, Ronak on Friday.