Ex-Sena corporator remanded in ATS custody for financing Raut

Mumbai: Sessions court judge V. S. Padalkar has sent former Shiv Sena Jalna corporator Shrikant Pangarkar, who was arrested by the Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS), in ATS custody till August 28. The ATS alleged that he provided monetary assistance in buying explosives found at right-wing activist Vaibhav Raut’s residence. The police also alleged that Pangarkar had done a recce of the few areas where terror attacks were planned.

The ATS arrested him on Sunday as part of its investigation into an alleged terror plot to carry out attacks in five cities of Maharashtra by extremist right-wing groups. Pangarkar was a corporator in Jalna Municipal Council for two terms, from December 2001 to December 2011.

Sunil Gonsalves, public prosecutor, argued before the court that Pangarkar is involved in providing funding for crude bombs and conducting a recce at different spots. The intended target of the attacks is yet to be ascertained.

“Searches were carried out in Jalna and Aurangabad on August 18 and the ATS has recovered one hard disc and three mobile phones. He was involved in funding of weapons recovered and carried out recce of potential targets.”

Meawhile, judge Padalkar queried whether the literature recovered by the ATS is banned. The prosecution replied in the negative, saying that bank account details are to be investigated to ascertain the funding angle and the hard disc is being sent to the forensics department.

Sanjeev Punalekar, the defence lawyer, argued that police custody is not required, as no material evidence has been shown to say that the accused is involved in the crime.

Twenty-two crude bo-mbs and 21 country-made weapons have been recovered from the accused in the case, who were allegedly planning to carry out attacks in five parts of the state. Three accused have been arrested so far.