Three arrested for shooting Airoli builder
Three persons have been arrested in connection with the murder of Airoli-based builder Deepak Patil, 40, who was shot dead on Tuesday afternoon near Vittawa subway in Kalwa.
Three persons have been arrested in connection with the murder of Airoli-based builder Deepak Patil, 40, who was shot dead on Tuesday afternoon near Vittawa subway in Kalwa.
The police arrested Atul Deshmukh alias Batli, 29, Ravichand alias Raja Thakur, 26, and Jaideep Salvi, 26, early on Friday morning from the Mumbai-Goa highway.
“We arrested three persons from Sai Kripa Hotel on the Mumbai-Goa road. We haven’t recovered the murder weapon, which they say is a Mauser pistol. Others involved in the murder will soon be arrested,” said SPS Yadav, Thane police commissioner.
Deshmukh is a resident of Airoli Gaon in Navi Mumbai whereas Thakur and Salvi are residents of Thane and Kalwa respectively.
On Tuesday, Patil, an accused in the murder of Navi Mumbai’s NCP corporator Devidas Chowghule, was on his way to Rabale in his Scorpio, when another Scorpio blocked their car.
“Thakur was driving the Scorpio and he obstructed Patil’s car. Salvi smashed the glass of the vehicle and Deshmukh fired at Patil,” said Arun Sonde, senior inspector, Kalwa police station.
“When Patil tried to escape, Deshmukh shot him again.’
However, the police have not been able to arrest the main accused, Sujith Suttar, and seven other accused.
“We have formed two teams to nab them,” said Sonde.
The police had earlier said that previous enmity could have been the motive behind Patil’s murder. However, it has emerged that there was a dispute between Suttar and Patil regarding a property.
According to the police, Patil, who was reportedly in contact with gangster Ravi Pujari, and Suttar were not on good terms for several years. Suttar had allegedly killed one of Patil’s aides.
Their relations had improved recently, but soured again when Suttar asked for 50% partnership in the supply of construction materials at a site in Vittawa. Patil refused saying that he would supply the materials on his own.