MUMBAI: A day after MNS leader and former corporator Sandeep Deshpande was assaulted by four unidentified men at Shivaji Park on Friday morning, the crime branch on Saturday arrested two men from Bhandup in connection with the attack.
One of the arrested accused, Ashok Kharat, is vice-president of Maharashtra Mathadi Kamgar and General Sena. Kharat, 56, and a Mathadi worker, Kishan Solanki, 35, were sent to police custody till March 9. Both are Bhandup residents.
Crime branch is looking for two others. The probe has been taken over by anti-extortion cell of crime branch.
Deshpande hinted that the attackers are linked to Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena UBT leaders though he refrained from direct accusations as a probe is still on. Deshpande has been provided two cops as security but he said he needs no security, adding those responsible for the attack would require protection now. He told TOI that the "mastermind of the attack should also be arrested". He hinted at the involvement of political rivals.
He added, "Earlier I met BMC chief complaining about Covid contract scam in the pandemic. Many contracts were given to people connected with Yuva Sena (UBT). BMC chief and police's EOW should probe it."
After Friday's attack, Deshpande in his police statement, said that attackers threatened him for speaking against Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut, Yuva Sena leader Varun Sardesai and Thackerays (UBT). He denied knowing any of the attackers personally.
Four unidentified men assaulted Deshpande at Shivaji Park ground while he was out for a morning walk. Shivaji Park police filed a case of attempted murder. Crime branch formed eight teams to nab the attackers.
Dnyadeshwar Chavan, additional CP, said, "We analysed CCTV cameras and arrested them from Bhandup." Footage of over 250 CCTV cameras was analysed.
"Motive whether it was professional rivalry, businesses, political, social, economic... we are probing all angles," added Chavan. The stumps used in the attack have not been seized yet.
DCP Prashant Kadam said there were 13 cases against Kharat. "One case is of attempted murder, another is extortion where MCOCA was invoked. The cases are in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai," said Kadam. An officer said Kharat was booked in a murder in 1989 in Dombivli for killing a member of an underworld gang.
Senior PI Ghanshyam Nair said on the day of incident, the four met at Bhandupstation at 5.30 am and came to Dadar. They walked behind Deshpande. "After the attack, they fled in different directions and met again at Nahur station before leaving for their homes," said Nair.mu
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