Cops look to connect dots in Dabholkar murder case

PUNE: The crime branch of the Pune police has begun probing whether arrested arms dealer Manish Ramvilas Nagori (24) of Hatkanangale in Kolhapur district and his accomplices are connected to anti-superstition crusader Narendra Dabholkar's murder.
Nagori and his accomplices Rahul Mali (21), Ramavatar Khandelwal (22) and Santosh Bagde (22), from Hatkanangale have been in the custody of the crime branch since November 28 for their suspected involvement in the murder of Prahlad Jogdandkar, security supervisor of the University of Pune, on May 3, 2012.
A senior officer from the crime branch (Pune) told TOI that the suspects were arrested from Mumbra in Thane district in an illegal fire arms case and a few firearms were seized from them. They were in the custody of the state anti-terrorism squad (ATS). Ballistic reports of one of the firearms stated that the bullet found in Dabholkar's body may have fired from the firearm seized from Nagori and his accomplices.
"Nagori is an illegal arms dealer. We are investigating if the suspects have any role in Dabholkar's murder," joint commissioner of police Sanjeev Kumar Singhal said.
The crime branch has deployed police officials to interrogate the gang and carried out searches in Sangli and Satara after getting information from the gang members. But there has been no breakthrough in the case.
On whether the ballistic report was sent to the Pune police, Singhal told reporters that they wanted to nab the suspects. "We cannot divulge any details during the probe," he said.
He said the Pune crime branch had not detained anyone in connection with Dabholkar's murder. "We are investigating the case from all angles," Singhal added.
Meanwhile, crime branch officials said they were yet to probe whether the gang was involved in the UoP guard's murder. Along with the Pune police, the state criminal investigating department, ATS, Mumbai police and other agencies are investigating Dabholkar's murder.