Thane: The special investigation team (SIT) investigating the firing case involving former Shiv Sena politician Mahesh Gaikwad in the cabin of a senior inspector inside the police station by BJP former MLA Ganpat Gaikwad last year, gave a clean chit to Ganpat’s son Vaibhav in the case and filed a supplementary chargesheet in the Ulhasnagar court on Monday.
In the supplementary chargesheet, the SIT stated that they did not find Vaibhav Gaikwad‘s role in the crime.
If sources are to be believed, this development clears the path for Vaibhav to get bail in court. He has been on the run for the last one year, and his bail plea was rejected.
The SIT officials claimed that a supplementary chargesheet was filed based on the arrest and investigation of two other accused, Yogesh Baderao and Kunal Patil, who were arrested last month in this case, making a total of seven arrests in the case.
SIT sources said the chargesheet was filed based on the SIT probe, in which Vaibhav’s role has not been revealed anywhere among the arrested accused so far.
It may be recalled that, until now, seven accused, except Vaibhav, have been arrested by the SIT in this case. Out of these, three accused have managed to secure bail from the court, while four others, including Ganpat, are still in jail.
In the chargesheet filed earlier, the SIT cited all sufficient evidence against Ganpat Gaikwad and others involved in the crime.
Last year, in February, due to a land dispute, a scuffle erupted between former BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad and former Shiv Sena leader Mahesh Gaikwad for two days. On February 2, both groups were sitting in the cabin of the senior inspector to complain against each other in the Hill Line police station in Ulhasnagar. At the same time, the senior inspector went out of the cabin for some work, during which Ganpat Gaikwad started firing on Mahesh Gaikwad and his companion Rahul Patil with his licensed revolver. Mahesh was hit by six bullets.
After the incident, Mahesh was admitted to the hospital, where he later survived safely.
After learning about the development related to Vaibhav Gaikwad, Mahesh held a press conference and accused the SIT investigating the case of saving Vaibhav due to political pressure. Mahesh Gaikwad told TOI that Vaibhav was present in the police station on the day of the incident and he called his father Ganpat to the police station, after which Ganpat fired at him. Despite if my statement, if the police are giving a clean chit to Vaibhav, it shows that the police are working under pressure from the govt since Vaibhav’s mother is now a BJP MLA. Mahesh said that if needed, he will go to the higher court in the case.
However, a senior official from the SIT refuted allegations of any political pressure on them, saying, “We have filed a supplementary chargesheet as per findings in this case, and if any fresh evidence comes against Vaibhav, then we will consider it.” MSID:: 118560389 413 |