The confessions by six accused in the murder case of Shiv Sena leader Kamlakar Jamsandikar points to gangster-turned politician Arun Gawli as the one who allegedly plotted the murder.
According to a 700-page chargesheet, which includes the confessions of the accused before the police, Gawli had allegedly been paid Rs 30 lakh for murdering Sena corporator Jamsandikar.
Sandip Gagan, one of the accused who has now turned an approver in the case, in his confession, said that in December 2006, Gawli was paid a supari (contract killing sum) of Rs 30 lakh by co-accused Ajit Rane, Pratap Godse, Sadashiv Surve and Sahebrao Bhintade for killing Jamsandikar, alleged the chargesheet, filed last week in a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court.
Gagan, who used to work as a peon in the office of Gawli's political party Akhil Bhartiya Sena, has said in his confession, "Gawli after accepting the briefcase containing the money told Rane and the others not to worry and that Jamsandikar would be taken care of," the chargesheet alleged.
Similarly, the confession of another accused Ashok Kumar Jaiswar, who was among the three persons who had gone to shoot Jamsandikar, also stated that they had been hired by Gawli and his party members to eliminate Jamsandikar, it alleged.
Jaiswar in his confession said, " My friend Narendra Giri and his brother Vijay Giri and I were called by Ajit Rane and Pratap Godse and were told that Gawli wants to hire us to kill a person," the chargesheet alleged.
The confession stated that Vijay Giri was promised Rs 2.5 lakh for the job and that Rane and Godse provided them with a revolver and two knives, the chargesheet added.
Jaiswar said, on March 2, 2007, he, Narendra and Vijay went to the person's house whom they were to kill and saw him sitting alone in the hall of his house. While they stood ready with their knives, Vijay loaded the gun and shot at Jamsandikar. They then fled from the scene, it alleged.
According to the chargesheet, Gagan in his confession has also stated that Gawli's party members collected information about various builders and construction companies in the city and then passed on the information to Gawli.
Another accused Shrikrishna Gurav, who is a member of Akhil Bhartiya Sena, in his confession has said, "he and Rane used to extort money from builders which was then handed over to Gawli," the chargesheet alleged.
He said, "Rane had contested for the October 2006 BMC elections, but had lost to Jamsandikar. This infuriated Rane who then approached Gawli to murder Jamsandikar," it alleged.
The Mumbai police has charged Gawli of conspiring and forming an organised crime syndicate to murder Jamsandikar.