Ex-mayor's husband Rajendra Shinde questioned by Crime Branch for second day in Purnekar murder case

The Crime Branch called Rajendra Shinde, husband of former mayor Meenakshi Shinde, for questioning for the second consecutive day in the murder of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) divisional head Pradeep Purnekar. Shinde arrived at the Crime Branch office once again on Wednesday, October 14. Asked whether he had been summoned for a second day, he replied in the affirmative.

Shinde had earlier been questioned for about nine hours and was then called again. He has been at the Crime Branch office for the past hour and a half, and is being questioned under the supervision of Crime Branch DCP Amarsingh Jadhav.

DCP Jadhav said Shinde is being questioned in connection with the murder case. People who were in contact with the accused or helped them have also been called for questioning. Those concerned will be questioned on the basis of the evidence and leads that emerge in the investigation. The accused already in custody are also still being questioned.

Pradeep (Balu) Purnekar was brutally murdered on September 29 in the Manpada area of Thane. The murder was carried out as part of a planned conspiracy. Purnekar had undergone a medical surgery some time earlier. On the day of the incident, his workers had gone out to collect donations for the Navratri festival and Purnekar was alone in his office.

At that moment, gunmen wearing helmets and with their faces covered suddenly entered the office. The attackers fired seven rounds at Purnekar from close range. Even after the shooting they did not stop, and attacked him with a sharp weapon before fleeing. Purnekar was rushed to hospital but died during treatment.

The police investigation has found that the attackers had carried out a thorough recce of his office before the murder. Stepping up the probe, Thane Police and a Crime Branch team (SIT) arrested Prakash alias 'Papya Shinde', Santosh Kanojia alias 'Talli' and other associates from Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere.

According to the police's preliminary investigation and information from the Uttar Pradesh STF, the murder conspiracy was hatched because of an old political and social enmity.