Popat Shinde, the prime accused in the murder case of Malegaon additional collector Yashwant Sonawane died in J J Hospital in Mumbai on Monday due to severe burn injuries. Malegaon additional collector Yashwant Sonawane was burnt alive in Manmad near Malegaon on 25th of January, when he tried to call other government officials to the scene of a fuel theft. The attackers doused Sonawane with kerosene and set him afire. Sonawane was found dead in a field from severe burns. But before dying he clung on to his main attacker Popat Shinde, making it impossible for him to flee. Shinde sustained severe burns and was critical. He was arrested with four others. Sonawane had gone to Chandvad, where farmers had been agitating, and was proceeding towards Nandgaon when he spotted oil pilferage at Panewadi village in Manmad taluka. When he saw the theft outside the shop of Popat Shinde, he took video footage on his cellphone and also called local officials for a raid. Shinde’s servant heard Sonawane calling the officials and alerted his boss. Soon, Shinde`s accomplices accosted Sonawane, doused him with the kerosene they were stealing and set him on fire.