Two absconding accused in Purnekar murder arrested in UP; Rajendra Shinde questioned in Thane

The investigation into the murder of Pradeep Purnekar, division chief of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) party in Thane, is moving fast. Five accused have been arrested so far. Meanwhile, Rajendra Shinde, husband of former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde, has been called for questioning at the anti-extortion cell of the Thane Crime Branch, setting off discussion in political circles.

According to information received, the arrested accused are being questioned one by one in Rajendra Shinde's presence. The questioning has been going on for about three hours, and investigating officers are examining different aspects of the murder and the statements of the accused. The special investigation team (SIT) formed to probe the case was earlier headed by DCP Amarsingh Jadhav.

Rajendra Shinde's questioning is continuing. All eyes are on whether he will be allowed to go home after the questioning, or whether further legal action will follow based on the facts that emerge in the investigation.

Meanwhile, the police have had a major breakthrough in the murder. The fourth accused, Santosh Kanojia alias "Talli", has been arrested from Prayagraj. Talli and his associate, the absconding helmet-wearing accused Amit Jaikishan Singh alias "Pappu", were arrested by the SIT on the evening of Friday, October 9, 2026. With the arrest of both, the mystery of the Purnekar murder is expected to unravel.

Of the absconding accused arrested by the SIT, Santosh Mehilal Kanojia alias Talli is originally from village Gahani, post Ayyar, district Varanasi. The helmet-wearing accused in the murder, Amit Jaikishan Singh alias Pappu, is an autorickshaw driver and lives in Bhayandar. His native village is Babiyav, post Cholapur, district Varanasi.

Both had absconded after the murder. The police suspected that the two had gone to their native villages, so police teams were searching for them in Uttar Pradesh and along the India-Nepal border. During this search, the SIT found Santosh Kanojia alias Talli. His friend, the helmet-wearing accused Amit Jaikishan Singh alias Pappu, was also found in Varanasi.

The police had already arrested three accused in the crime. But who the main conspirator is, and whether the reason behind the murder is political or personal, has not yet fully emerged. With Santosh Kanojia's arrest, the police are expected to get several important leads on who gave the contract for the killing, how the conspiracy was hatched and who the real mastermind behind the whole case is.