Pansare murder: suspect nabbed

Pune: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is probing CPI leader Comrade Govind Pansare’s murder case on Wednesday made its first arrest in the case.
Vishnu Gaikwad (32) from Sangli was arrested on the suspicion of his involvement in the conspiracy to kill Mr Pansare.

The police suspects him on the basis of his mobile phone surveillance. However, the investigators also clarified that the man is still only a suspect and they have not cracked the entire case as yet.

Gaikwad was arrested from his house in Sangli at about 4.30 am on Wednesday and produced before a court at Kolhapur which remanded him to police custody till September 23.

ADG Sanjay Kumar, who is heading the probe said, “We had kept surveillance on many people and Gaikwad was one of them. He was being watched for six months. Based on our surveillance report, we suspect that he may have the information about the murder and he can give us more clues about the incident.

“That’s why we have taken him into custody. We have not claimed that he was the attacker. We have some information and also got some clues from him, which are being investigated. It will also give more clarity about his possible direct or indirect involvement in the case.”

The SIT chief further said, according to the initial information, Gaikwad has been working with Sanatan Sanstha since 1998 and his family is also associated with the organisation. “He has a house in Sangli and also in Mumbai. He repairs mobile phones for a living,” he added.