Chota Rajan link to CPI leader Govind Pansare murder?

NEW DELHI: Months before the attack on CPI leader Govind Pansare and his wife in Kolhapur, Sameer Gaikwad, the prime accused in the murder case, was taking instructions from a man (name withheld) suspected to be linked to underworld don Rajan Nikalaje, alias Chota Rajan. This had been revealed after an analysis of call detail records of Gaikwad, who later told his interrogators that he came in contact with this man at his mobile recharge shop and started helping him in procuring and recharging phones, said sources.

This man, according to investigators, was in constant touch with 2009 Goa blast suspect Rudra Patil. He was formerly associated with Rajan gang and allegedly involved in several cases of extortion and murder. He was arrested in a murder case in 2000, but was acquitted by court for want of evidence. A native of Kolhapur, the man is under scanner for his links with other Sanatan Sanstha members.

Maharashtra SIT official told ET they also suspected involvement of some persons who may not be associated with the Sanstha. "There is a possibility that a professional gang or criminal is involved. The attack on Pansare, MM Kalburgi and Narendra Dabholkar may not be stray incidents and could be linked to one group or person," said an official. NIA officials said: "He seems to be not aware about the conspiracy. It is possible that this man with suspected links to criminals executed the killings. We have been trying to trace his whereabouts. We have got some leads on Rudra’s whereabouts and efforts are on to track him."

Sanatan Sanstha in a statement said: "The police have purposefully arrested him, by going through 2 crore call data records and searching only the phone number of Sanstha’s seeker(s) due to pressure from the anti-Sanstha elements... Sanstha has faced similar criticism on earlier occasions... No output came out of these inquiries..."