Bunty Dixit murder: accused Pawan first planned to kill him at Ravan Dahan, police say

Fresh details have emerged from police questioning in the murder of Devesh alias Bunty Dixit in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The accused, Pawan, had plotted to finish off Bunty at the Ravan Dahan programme at Ramlila Maidan. A rivalry over dominance is said to be the reason for the killing.

Bunty and Pawan had been quarrelling for several months. Pawan was angry that Bunty was getting the better of him in this clash. He knew that Bunty was active at the Ravan Dahan programme at Ramlila Maidan, so he planned to attack him there.

Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde was due to attend the Dussehra programme as chief guest, so police had made heavy arrangements around Ramlila Maidan. Pawan went to the dandiya programme and surveyed the area. Seeing the heavy police deployment, he gave up the idea of committing the murder there. But his anger against Bunty did not subside, and Bunty was later killed in the N-7 area.

During questioning after his arrest, Pawan told police where he had thrown the weapon. Acting on this, a team of Sub-Inspector Anil Nanekar and Constable Mangesh Pawar searched the area and recovered a country-made pistol. Investigating officer Yogesh Gaikwad said the weapon had been seized. Police Inspector Atul Pairme said the court has sent the accused to ten days in police custody. The order came on Friday.

After the crime, Pawan did not go straight to the police station. He went towards the lane by the government hospital in N-8. Passing the vacant ground in front of the Aurangabad District Co-operative Bank, he threw the country-made pistol and nine cartridges out of a moving vehicle. The pistol fell into grass by the roadside, so it was not easily noticed. Pawan then presented himself at CIDCO police station.

According to sources, Pawan kept saying the same things in the lock-up. He said Bunty obstructed him in everything and considered himself the big brother, and that he wanted to show that he was no less than anyone.

Meanwhile, Bunty Dixit's last rites were performed on Friday afternoon at the Central Naka cremation ground. The mood was sombre and a large crowd had gathered. Police arrangements were also in place there.