Bakshi, 2 others held for murder of NCP leader

NAGPUR: Mickey Bakshi, the prime suspect in senior NCP leader Ganesh Mate's kidnapping and murder case and two of his accomplices were arrested by Sadar police on Saturday evening. A dispute over an alleged fraud related to a property worth Rs 36 lakh led to the crime.
Bakshi, the owner of a security firm and president of the socio-political organization 'Youth Force', was nabbed from a place near a temple at Seminary Hills.His accomplices Yogesh Chokse and Kamaljeet Singh Mangat were also arrested. Senior police officials did not rule out more arrests.
Mate's body was found on the railway tracks near the Kalamna yard with the head severed in the wee hours of Friday. Earlier in the day, the NCP leader from Kanhan had gone to Bakshi's office with his driver Gendlal and cousin Gulchand Kukde. Later, with Mate in his office, Bakshi came out and snatched the car keys and sent Gendlal and Kukde away.
Mate's son Swapnil lodged a missing complaint with the Sadar police. The railway police registered a case of kidnapping and murder against Bakshi and his aides before transferring it to Sadar police.
Sources from Sadar police station stated Bakshi is on a denial mode. He had also sent cops feeders about his intention to surrender but the investigating agency claimed to have nabbed him before he could walk into the police station.
It has come fore that Mate had helped Bakshi to purchase a plot admeasuring around 2.5 acres at Zingabai Takli off Koradi Road. The plot belonged to a farmer from Parseoni identified as Gawande. He had sold off the piece of property to another person in 1981. It was learnt that the power of attorney of the said plot was with another controversial real estate dealer.
Despite these facts, Mate had mediated a sale in which Bakshi purchased the plot for Rs 30 lakh and also paid an additional Rs 6 lakh towards stamp duty and other miscellaneous expenses. Bakshi was upset with Mate for concealing facts and also retaining a bulk of the payment.
When asked, Bakshi said that Mate had come to his office on Mount Road in Sadar but left at 5pm. Bakshi said that he and Mate had mutually agreed to settle the payment issue within a month. Police are now verifying the claims.