Sidhu Moosewala murder case: Police identify two suspects from Pune

The suspects from Pune have been identified as Santosh Jadhav and Saurabh Mahakal, who are untraceable since a year, say Pune police

A special investigation team (SIT) of Mansa police has identified eight shooters who may possibly be linked with the murder of Punjabi singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala, police said on Monday. Among the suspects, two are from Pune.

Santosh Jadhav (SOURCED)

Others belong to Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, and are associated with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is the main suspect in the case, a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity.

The suspects from Pune have been identified as Santosh Jadhav and Saurabh Mahakal, who are untraceable since a year after their suspected involvement was reported by Pune police in the murder of another criminal on record Omkar Bankhele.

Other shooters were identified as Manpreet Singh Mannu of Khussa village in Moga, Jagroop Singh alias Roopa of Jaura village in Tarn Taran and Harkamal Singh alias Ranu of Bathinda in Punjab, Manjeet alias Bholu and Priyavart alias Fauji of Sisana village in Haryana’s Sonipat and Subhash Banuda of Sikar in Rajasthan.

These two suspects, Pune police suspect, have been working for jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Their possible involvement in Moosewala murder case is being probed based on the CCTV footage.

“The Pune police officials on Monday spoke with Mansa police, who believe Jadhav is likely to be among the shooters involved in Moosewala’s murder. The Punjab Police are probing the case and we will provide any help needed,” Pune superintendent of police Abhinav Deshmukh, who contacted his Mansa counterpart said on Monday.

Moosewala was shot dead at Jawaharke village in Mansa district of Punjab on May 29, a day after the state government pruned his security cover. An autopsy report later claimed that the singer bore 19 bullet injury marks and would have died within 15 minutes.

Hours after the incident on May 29, Punjab director general of police (DGP) VK Bhawra said the killing was a result of gang rivalry and that Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang and Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar appeared to be involved in the crime.

On May 31, Bishnoi was arrested by Delhi Police in connection with a case of arms act registered against him and his accomplices in the capital last year. The special cell of Delhi said Bishnoi’s role in the murder of Moosewala would also be probed.

Deshmukh said Pune Police suspect that Jadhav has been working for the Bishnoi gang whose members along with him are accused of another offence at Gangapur in Rajasthan.

“He is wanted in many cases including one at Gangapur in Rajasthan. Our teams are trying to chase him,” said Deshmukh.

According to officials from the rural police unit, Jadhav has been untraceable since August 1 last year when he along with another unidentified accomplice shot Bankhele dead at Manchar near Pune. At Gangapur police station, Jadhav is booked for attempt to murder.

“Jadhav is an accused in four different crimes including murder, attempt to murder and Arms Act. The police have invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA),” said Shivaji Shelke, police inspector, Pune rural unit. As for Mahakal, the police officials said they do not have many details about his background.

The duo, according to Pune police, are suspected to be operating these days in the border areas of Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana. “We had previously sent a team to nab them though there was no success,” said Shelke.