An Republican Party of India (RPI) leader in Panvel, Jagdish Gaikwad, and his three accomplices have been named in a case relating to attempt to murder and abduction of Gaikwad’s former personal assistant, Sachin Shripat Kamble, with the Kamothe police on Monday.
Mr. Gaikwad alias Bhai and his accomplices allegedly kidnapped and attempted to kill Mr. Kamble for not supporting him for pre-election work. According to Mr. Kamble’s statement to the police, he was attacked at around 2.30 am on Monday.
Mr. Kamble, who was sleeping at home, was woken up by his friend Vikram Bergal’s call at 2 a.m. on Monday, asking Mr. Kamble to meet him near Vyankat Hotel to discuss something important about the election. “Kamble went to meet his friend on his scooter and while they were talking, Gaikwad and his three accomplices reached the spot in Gaikwad’s Fortuner car,” Senior Police Inspector Ashok Naik said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mr. Kamble had worked as Gaikwad’s PA and had quit to start his own media business. “Since Kamble was associated with Gaikwad, he recognised Gaikwad and his men,” Mr. Naik said. The associates have been identified as Bablu Kamble from Taloja, Nilesh from Asudgaon in Panvel and Parikshit Shardul alias Chinya from Kalamboli.After Mr. Gaikwad’s vehicle reached the spot, Mr. Kamble started his scooter to go back home when he noticed that Mr. Gaikwad’s vehicle was following him. On nearing Swapnaraj Society at Sector 6 A, Kamothe, Mr. Gaikwad’s vehicle bumped into Mr. Kamble’s scooter and he fell off the two-wheeler. Mr. Kamble managed to run inside the compound of the society and knock on his friend’s door but before anybody could open the door, Mr. Gaikwad’s accomplices allegedly caught hold of Mr. Kamble, dragged him into the vehicle and took him towards Kharghar.
“In the vehicle, those men assaulted me and threatened me for not supporting Gaikwad in his pre-election work. I told them I did not wish to work with him as Gaikwad and his men never respected me. Then on reaching the Asudgaon highway, Gaikwad took an iron rod, hit me on my head and abandoned me on the road. They also took away my wallet and mobile phone so that I couldn’t contact anyone,” Mr. Kamble said.
Mr. Kamble said he managed to walk some distance and hired an auto to his friend’s place Khanda Colony, following which he went to Kamothe Police Station to lodge a complaint.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We have registered the case of abduction and attempt to murder against Gaikwad and his accomplices and are yet to make any arrests,” Mr. Naik said.