Mumbai Police botched investigation, claims ex-Sena neta's family

Mumbai: Around two months after the murder of former Shiv Sena corporator Ashok Sawant, his family has approached the Mumbai police alleging a botched-up investigation.

They have also claimed that there is a threat to their lives. Sawant’s daughter and former corporator Prajakta submitted a letter at Mumbai police headquarters, alleging that her father was allegedly hacked to death over rivalry in the cable-television business.  She stated that the police had allegedly covered up the real motive behind he crime, citing political connections of suspect Sada Kadam, who she named in her letter. “One of the facts in the case was the animosity over penetrating deeper into the clientele of the cable television business. My father was into redevelopment, and the new homes which were being occupied were up for grabs to put up new cable connections,” Prajakta Sawant Vishwasrao told The Asian Age. 

She also alleged that this was known to the police when it began to probe into the case, but the police officials did not probe it further. The attackers, who hatched the conspiracy expected the Sawants to stay away from the cable business after the murder.

In her letter to the IPS officers, Prajakta stated, “On March 5, Ashok Shinde, a close aide of Kadam, met one Paresh Koregaonkar, who also was known to Sawant. Shinde asked who will run the cable business in the absence of Ashok Sawant. When Koregaonkar responded saying the family will, he said they do not seem to have learnt any lesson from the murder,” Prajakta added. She claimed the same was conveyed to her by Koregaonkar. The police, however, denied the claims made by her in the letter.

“These allegations were making the rounds during the probe. However, basis to them was never established. The complainant did not approach us with these allegations and names that have been put in the letter,” said Vinay Rathod, deputy commissioner of police, zone XII.

The police has provided security to the family as she has expressed fear for her and other family member’s lives. She has alleged that the security was withdrawn after Holi that has now been restored.

When asked about what steps are being taken to prove the specific allegations mentioned in the letter, Mr Rathod said, “We will record her detailed statements after which those named in the letter will be summoned for questioning.”