Hudkeshwar cops ‘correct mistake’, nab real murderers now

Nagpur: Amol Ganar, earlier arrested for his friend Manoj Huddar’s murder on September 17, would often shake his head in disbelief in custody that he had been held responsible for a crime he did not commit. The cops initially ignored Ganar’s denials after his alleged admission under pressure but later realized their mistake. In a twist, Hudkeshwar police have now claimed to have nabbed the real culprit in Huddar’s murder.
Though Ganar’s relief now rests on technical grounds and will not be immediate, Hudkeshwar police seem have now set an example by coming clean on their mistake after arresting Pravin Chavan and Roshan Katole on Thursday. On Friday, investigation officer Asst PI Ajay Lengurkar produced the duo before a magistrate’s court seeking custody. The court granted police custody of Chavan and Katole till September 27.
Huddar, with several ailments, was found with his head smashed on September 17 at Soubhagya Nagar. He had left home a day earlier but did not return. Police had arrested Huddar’s friend Ganar on the basis of ‘last seen theory’ as many had spotted them together a couple of hours prior to the murder. Ganar and Huddar had consumed liquor along with an auto-rickshaw driver Ganvir before parting. Police picked up Ganar for questioning. He buckled under pressure admitting the crime. Police also procured his custody from court till September 22. However, the probe later took an unexpected turn.
API Lengurkar said an informer told detection branch constable Vilas Chintulkar about the possible involvement of Chavan and Katole. “The latest accused duo had sneaked away from the locality after Huddar’s murder came to fore. We started a manhunt for them immediately after learning about their possible involvement. The duo was trapped at Belturi in the outskirts of city. During interrogation, they confessed to the crime,” he said.
Chavan has an offence of trying to break an ATM against him in the past. Katole, a carpenter, does not have any crime record. Prior to murder, Chavan and Katole had also consumed liquor at a bar. They had gone back home but Chavan wanted to smoke a cigarette. Chavan and Katole once again met at a pan kiosk to smoke. On their way back home, Chavan felt Huddar had abused him. When he questioned Huddar, they got into a verbal duel that culminated into murder.
Lengurkar said he would have to now carefully tread legal path to extend relief to Ganar through discharging him from the offence as the probe progresses.
Wadi murder detection ‘goof up’
Wadi police had to eat humble pie after nothing emerged from the interrogation of Ganpat More who was arrested in May this year for the murder of 75-year-old priest Jagan Kodape. The priest was bludgeoned to death at Goddess temple at the Ordnance Factory premises at Wadi.
While Jagan succumbed to his injuries, his son 27-year-old Rakesh survived the attack. On the basis of Rakesh’s version police had arrested More but gradually his innocence had come to fore. Wadi police have now moved to discharge More.