Traders' mafia killed agro panel official: Police

MUMBAI: A traders'' mafia was responsible for last month''s killing of A.G. Tambhale, the secretary for the Mumbai Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee, according to police investigations. Mr Tambhale''s crusade against truck operators who had cheated the marketing committee of cess valued at crores of rupees cost him his life on December 24, committee officials and the Navi Mumbai police said.
The police believe that some traders from the dry fruits, condiments and oil market may have planned the killing.The police also suspect that Sunil Katke, an accused person who is absconding, is linked to the Gawli gang.
Katke, an electrician with the committee, had been suspended by Mr Tambhale for allegedly being in league with the illegal operators in the market.
The police suspect that Katke used to help the operators clear truckloads of dry fruits or condiments without paying any cess or octroi.
Navi Mumbai police commissioner Ramrao Ghadge said the police picked up Paresh Bhanushali alias Nanda (42), a clearing agent from the condiments market, two days after the murder. This led to the arrest of two waiters, Manu Shetty (21) and Vinod Sahu (22).
According to deputy commissioner, Sharad Shelar, the three have been booked for murder. Mr Shelar said, Shetty shot Mr Tambhale when he arrived at the committee office at Vashi at around 11 a.m. on December 24. Sahu had kept a vigil and signalled Mr Tambhale''s arrival. Both fled the scene.
The committee charges 80 paise for every Rs 100 worth of goods that are sold. Everyday, the market receives about 3,500 vehicles full of food items like vegetables, oil, and spices.
Mr Tambhale and Kumar Gosavi, the committe chairman and an MLA, had teamed up with joint secretary D.D. Kamble and officers from the vigilance and security staff to redesign the strategy to plug revenue leaks.
This resulted in a marginal increase in revenue, from Rs 28 crore in 2000 to Rs 37 crore in 2002. Mr Tambhale was instrumental in computerising the markets, eliminating the scope to manipulate records. This yielded Rs six crore in additional revenue.
As a result, the marketing committee managed to pay off loans of Rs 236 crore owned to various banks and the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority.
Mr Tambhale and Mr Gosavi personally led raids on trucks illegally transporting the goods away from the committee''s godowns. In July, Mr Gosavi seized eight vehicles carrying 175 bags of sugar and 25 in bags of raisins and condiments without paying the octroi. The offenders were fined Rs 50,000.