The Criminal Investigation Department have resolved the mystery surrounding the bullet-riddled body of an unidentified youth found near Khanapur and have categorically ruled out his involvement in the murder of scholar M.M. Kalburgi. They have said it has no link with the murders of Govind Pansare in Kolhapur or Narendra Dabholkar in Pune.
Though there was some resemblance between the sketch of the suspect in the Kalburgi murder case and that of the deceased, both were not related, the police said.
The police have identified the deceased as Mahantesh Chidanand Shiroli, a 25-year-old resident of Kadapur village of Chikkodi taluk in Belagavi district. He was murdered by his brothers who wanted to get rid of Mahantesh as the latter had often harassed and assaulted his family members.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Hemant Nimbalkar, who headed the special team investigating the Kalburgi murder case and the case related to the unidentified body, told The Hindu that the main accused, Nandakumar, brother of Mahantesh, his cousin Uday Shiroli, and their two friends Mallikarjun alias Mallappa Kotgi and Manjunath Hosur of Dasanal of Savadatti taluk had been arrested and further investigations were on.
All the four planned to finish off Mahantesh and lured him for a Goa trip. On their way to Goa in a car, they had a sumptuous dinner and liquor at Khanapur on the night of October 17. Later, while proceeding towards Goa, they took a break near Manikwadi Cross, about 7-8 km from Khanapur town to attend nature’s call. Nandakumar, who had obtained a country pistol from a supplier in Allahabad of Uttar Pradesh, fired two rounds at Mahantesh, killing him on the spot. Subsequently, Nandakumar dropped Mallikarjun and Manjunath to Dasanal before returning to Kadapur.
Nandakumar had done a course with Industrial Institute and was working for a Dubai-based Shipping Company, He had returned to his native village about one-and-a-half months ago. He had picked up a quarrel with his mother and physically assaulted her, leaving her unconscious. She was admitted to the hospital for treatment for seven days. He had criminal antecedents and had spent two years in Yerwada Jail in Pune for committing a murder.
Mr. Nimbalkar said that the breakthrough in the investigations came from a tip-off when a person, after seeing the image of the unidentified youth in the media, called on his mobile phone. Subsequently, the CID team swung into action and nabbed Mallikarjun Kotagi, who confessed to the murder and revealed other details.
The police are in the process of recovering the pistol used for the murder and the car and the mobile phones used by the accused, Mr. Nimbalkar said.
