Two additional suspects were arrested in connection with the murder of Shiv Sena division chief Pradeep Purnekar.
The two were apprehended near Alibag while allegedly attempting to flee towards Goa, according to police sources. Yadav allegedly opened fire on Purnekar, while Pawar allegedly attacked him with a sharp weapon, according to investigators. THANE: The Thane Crime Branch has arrested two more accused in connection with the murder of Shiv Sena (UBT) division chief Pradeep alias Balu Purnekar, taking the total number of arrests in the case to three. The arrested accused have been identified as Nikhil Yadav and Nitesh Pawar alias Bhavdya. Police teams had been searching for the accused after Purnekar was shot and attacked with a sharp-edged weapon at his office in Thane. Police are now expected to question both accused to establish the sequence of events, the motive and the role of others involved in the alleged conspiracy. Police will also attempt to recover the weapons allegedly used in the murder and investigate how the accused obtained them. The police have also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by DCP (Crime) Amarsingh Jadhav to conduct a detailed probe into the killing. The investigation is continuing, with police probing the alleged conspiracy, the role of other suspects and the possible involvement of the absconding accused.
The Crime Branch reportedly traced the duo following information obtained during the questioning of suspects detained earlier in the case. Earlier, Prakash alias Papya Shinde was arrested in connection with the case. The two accused are expected to be produced before the Thane Sessions Court on Friday.