Mumbai: Days after the brutal killing of Additional Collector Yashwant Sonawane, more evidence has surfaced to show that no action was taken against Popat Shinde, the prime accused in his murder, despite a detailed report given by Sonawane in August last year.
The report, prepared by Sonawane in August 2010, said the police should take action against Shinde under Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA). He filed the report after he conducted raids on Shinde around six months ago.
Sonawane was set on fire by the oil mafia in Manmad in Maharashtra on Tuesday. His driver's testimony has confirmed the police theory that Sonawane was burnt alive because he tried to film kerosene being stolen from an oil tanker on his cellphone. Eleven people have been arrested for his murder.
Police has been exploring the theory that the Sonawane's murderers had interacted with him before, and wanted to punish him because he had tried to interfere earlier with their operations. Sonawane's report proves the same.
Oil mafia in Manmad operates uninhibitedly. This is where nearly 300 tankers are filled everyday with fuel from massive oil depots. Manmad hosts a major intersection of four highways. From here, oil tankers make their way to Malegaon, Nashik, Aurangabad and Nagar. Drivers of the tankers are seen brazenly stealing kerosene from the trucks they drive. Tankers are locked after they are filled up, but the mafia has duplicate keys. Highway robbery is a fact of life.
It was one such operation that Sonawane stumbled upon while on an official tour. He was reportedly trying to contact other government officers to ask for their help when a group of people poured kerosene all over him near a roadside stall. The mob was led by Shinde, who was also injured in the attack he launched. He is now in a local hospital with serious burns. (Read: Who is Popat Shinde?)
Sources say that Shinde has been working for the oil mafia for nearly 30 year! s. Once a roadside snack seller, he befriended truck drivers who operate at the massive oil depots in Manmad. Shinde learnt the tricks of the oil pilferage trade and soon made enough money to own two oil tankers.
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The report, prepared by Sonawane in August 2010, said the police should take action against Shinde under Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA). He filed the report after he conducted raids on Shinde around six months ago.
Sonawane was set on fire by the oil mafia in Manmad in Maharashtra on Tuesday. His driver's testimony has confirmed the police theory that Sonawane was burnt alive because he tried to film kerosene being stolen from an oil tanker on his cellphone. Eleven people have been arrested for his murder.
Police has been exploring the theory that the Sonawane's murderers had interacted with him before, and wanted to punish him because he had tried to interfere earlier with their operations. Sonawane's report proves the same.
Oil mafia in Manmad operates uninhibitedly. This is where nearly 300 tankers are filled everyday with fuel from massive oil depots. Manmad hosts a major intersection of four highways. From here, oil tankers make their way to Malegaon, Nashik, Aurangabad and Nagar. Drivers of the tankers are seen brazenly stealing kerosene from the trucks they drive. Tankers are locked after they are filled up, but the mafia has duplicate keys. Highway robbery is a fact of life.
It was one such operation that Sonawane stumbled upon while on an official tour. He was reportedly trying to contact other government officers to ask for their help when a group of people poured kerosene all over him near a roadside stall. The mob was led by Shinde, who was also injured in the attack he launched. He is now in a local hospital with serious burns. (Read: Who is Popat Shinde?)
Sources say that Shinde has been working for the oil mafia for nearly 30 year! s. Once a roadside snack seller, he befriended truck drivers who operate at the massive oil depots in Manmad. Shinde learnt the tricks of the oil pilferage trade and soon made enough money to own two oil tankers.
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