Sapkal questions Purnekar murder probe, seeks SIT led by IPS officer from outside Thane

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshwardhan Sapkal has raised questions over the investigation into the murder of Pradip Purnekar, an office-bearer of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). Sapkal said the investigation must reveal which force is behind the killing. But the way the police have conducted the probe so far, he said, makes it clear that an attempt is being made to protect someone.

Sapkal demanded that a new Special Investigation Team (SIT) be formed under an IPS officer from outside Thane. He also said the entire murder investigation should be conducted under the supervision of the High Court. According to him, the present SIT is only an eyewash.

Sapkal visited Purnekar's family in Thane today and consoled them. Speaking to the media there, he said there appeared to be no progress in the probe into Purnekar's murder. He said the Purnekar family had given the police evidence and had also named the people they suspect of the murder. Despite this, he said, an attempt is being made to protect them.

Sapkal said the investigation had been off track since the time the FIR was registered. According to him, the questioning so far is superficial and the main accused are being given protection. The SIT that has been formed is made up of local police. The Purnekar family and the people of Thane have no faith in this SIT, he said.

He also said the murder is very serious. Before he was killed, Pradip Purnekar had himself said that his life was in danger, but the investigation is not moving in that direction. Sapkal said the government should give justice to the Purnekar family. He expressed confidence that the Congress party stands with the Purnekar family in this difficult hour.

Sapkal was accompanied on the occasion by Thane District Congress Committee president Rahul Pingle, state Congress general secretary Shrirang Barge, former president Vikrant Chavan, Congress taluka president Sangita Kotal and Seva Dal's Ravindra Koli, along with several other Congress office-bearers and workers.

Five people have been arrested so far in the murder case. They include the main accused, Papya Shinde, and four others. Pradip Purnekar's son Ram Purnekar has made allegations against Meenakshi Shinde, a former mayor of Thane and a corporator of the Shinde faction, and her husband Rajendra Shinde. He says the two conspired to murder Pradip Purnekar. Following these allegations, the police have reportedly summoned Rajendra Shinde for questioning seven times.