In Maharashtra, eleven persons have been arrested in the murder of Additional District Collector Yashwant Sonawane who was burnt alive by suspected members of local oil mafia members. The official's family and BJP demanded a CBI probe into the incident.Deputy Superintendent of Police (Manmad) Samadhan Pawar told PTI that involvement of more and important people in the crime cannot be ruled out.Main accused Popat Shinde, who is in critical condition after sustaining burn injuries while setting on fire the Malegaon ADC after he detected pilfering of kerosene, was shifted to state-run J J hospital in Mumbai. He is reported to be in a serious condition.Popat Shinde, who has two earlier cases registered against him in connection with fuel adulteration, was first admitted to Nashik civil hospital.The other six accused were produced before a local court in Manmad town and remanded in police custody till 8th February . Four more persons were arrested in connection with the gruesome murder on the basis of information provided by those remanded in custody.Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan vowed to go into the “root” of the incident after 42-year-old Sonawane was done to death near Manmad in Nashik district .He also ordered strict action against those indulging in adulteration of fuel over which the state bureaucrat lost his life. The demand for a CBI inquiry was made by the victim’s brother-in-law Anand Dani. BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar expressed shock over the incident and also demanded a CBI probe in to the incident.Kunal Shinde, a co-accused and son of the main accused Popat Shinde, has also been arrested near Shirdi. Kunal was absconding since the day of incident. The police also held the driver and the cleaner of the tanker which was pilfered.The driver Hakkani Khan Rabbani Khan Pathan and cleaner Imran Khan Hakkani Khan Pathan will be produced in court today. The police have seized the tanker.Meanwhile the state's gazetted officers are expected to go on a day-long strike today to protest against the gruesome murder of Yashwant Sonawane. The Maharashtra Gazetted Officers Mahasangh, which called for the strike, said Class-1 and Class-2 officers are shaken by the murder and lower-level officers would also join the protest.
News On AIR | January 27, 2011 8:53 AM
11 arrested in Sonawane murder case