Cops identify two conspirators in attack on jailer

PUNE: The police have identified two criminals lodged in the Yerawada central prison, who convinced Nilesh Wadkar to shoot at jailer Mohan Patil on July 6.

Wadkar revealed under questiojning that he and the two criminals wanted to threaten Patil, who maintained strict discipline between the inmates.

The criminals, who are lodged in jail, will soon be arrested and impleaded as suspects after obtaining production warrants from the court.

On the progress of investigation, senior Yerawada police inspector Rajkumar Waghchavre said, “We have recovered a countrymade pistol and a live round from Wadkar. We have also recovered the scooter from rider Kunal Kanade’s possession, and a motorcycle from Hrishikesh Rajesh Chavan and Omkar Chandrakant Beluse.”

“Wadkar and three others have been charged under section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the

Indian Penal Code

after an investigation established that the attack on Patil was a concerted effort,” Waghchavre said, adding that more suspects will be arrested soon.

Wadkar and the others were initially arrested under attempt to murder and other charges of the IPC, Arms Act, and the Maharashtra Police Act.

Explaining Chavan and Beluse’s role, Waghchavre said their probe revealed that the two suspects were present at the spot when Wadkar, riding pillion, had shot at Patil. The incident occurred between the prison’s gate and the Yerawada post office on Jail Road.

A senior police officer, requesting anonymity, told TOI, “Investigations have revealed that the two jailed criminals had initially instructed another criminal, who had visited them in prison, to open fire on the jailer. But the visitor decided to not execute the plan. The criminals then instructed Wadkar — who was also miffed with Patil about the enforcement of discipline — to shoot at the jailer around two or three days before the incident. Wadkar procured firearms and shot at Patil. We are investigating the source of the weapon.”

Wadkar and three others will be produced before a magisterial court, following the expiry of their police custody remand, on Tuesday.

Wadkar is a criminal on the record of Dattawadi police. He was released on bail in a three-month-old attempt to murder case around a month ago.

On the morning of June 6, two men wearing masks and riding a scooter shot at Patil when we was on his way to the jail from his residence.