VASAI: Eleven days after he was abducted and killed allegedly at the behest of his younger brother, Shiv Sena functionary Ashok Dhodi's body was found in the boot of his car which was pulled out of a stone quarry in Bhilad in Gujarat.
Palghar superintendent of police Balasaheb Patil and local cops were present when Ashok's car was pulled out from the bottom of the 45-ft deep quarry after a four-hour search operation.
Ashok, who served as Sena coordinator for the Dahanu-Talasari assembly constituency, was kidnapped on Jan 20 from Vevaji ghat in Talasari, Dahanu taluka.
Initially a missing person's complaint was lodged, but after Gholvad police found his slipper and spectacles, along with a few bloodstained documents, they registered a case of abduction on Jan 27. Two days later, four suspects were arrested and sent to seven days' police custody. During interrogation, they allegedly confessed to the crime and the location of the body. "The accused had meticulously planned the murder and avoided main roads and lanes to evade CCTV cameras," said Patil.
While Ashok's body was sent to J J Hospital for a post-mortem examination, police have confirmed that he was killed the same day he was abducted — on Jan 20.
According to sources, there are more than a dozen cases against the main accused, Avinash Dhodi, in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Police said Ashok used to regularly oppose and file complaints against his brother's illegal activities including selling Daman-manufactured liquor in Dahanu and Palghar, illegal sand dumping. On one occasion, Avinash had to pay a Rs 2.5 lakh fine after his truck which was illegally transporting sand was intercepted by police on Ashok's complaint. There were also family disputes, police added.
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