Two arrests have been made in the murder case of former BJP MLA Jayanti Bhanushali from Gujarat even as it has emerged that another former BJP MLA, Chhabil Patel, and one Manisha Goswami were the alleged masterminds behind the murder.
Additional Director General of Police Ajay Tomar on Thursday said in Gandhinagar that the investigating agencies have arrested two persons—Nitin Patel and Rahul Patel. The duo are associates of Chhabil Patel.
Bhanushali, a former BJP MLA from Abdasa, was shot dead on board Sayajinagari Express in the wee hours of January 7 before Samakhayali Railway Station. The former law maker was traveling in first class air conditioned coach from Bhuj to Ahmedabad.
Tomar said that Chhabil Patel went to Muscat on January 2 and Goswami remained in Bhuj from January 3 to 6 to be in touch with the killers.
Both Chhabil Patel and Goswami are at large. Asked if the police would take the help of Interpol and issue red corner notice for Chhabil Patel, Tomar said that all that was necessary would be done. The police said that Goswami and Chhabil Patel connived and gave contract to kill the former MLA.
Bhanushali is believed to have been killed by sharp shooters Shashikant Kamble and Ashraf Sheikh, both from Yerwada in Maharashtra. Both of them have several cases, including that of murder, registered against them. Kamble has 15 cases registered against him. They are believed to have killed Bhanushali and fled by road to Pune after disembarking from the train by pulling the chain.
Tomar said both Goswami and Chhabil Patel had serious differences with the deceased and that is the reason why they connived to get him eliminated. He, however, refused to divulge more details.
There have been allegations against Goswami that she used to blackmail people using CDs of sex rackets. Asked if the murder had anything to do with the sex racket CDs, Tomar said he has already given details of what has so far emerged in the investigation.
In the past, Sunil Bhanushali, a nephew of Bhanushali, had lodged a complaint of blackmailing against Goswami. She had to spent a few months in jail in connection with the case.
Police said that one S. Pardeshi alias Bhau and Chhabil Patel helped her come out of jail and later on she met the sharp shooters in Pune.
On December 25, Kamble arrived at Narayani Farm House owned by Chhabil Patel while Sheikh joined him on December 31 in Kutch.
Police said that both the Sheikh and Kamble were spotted in the CCTV footage at the Samakhayali toll booth while on their way to Pune.
Soon after the murder, Bhanushali's family had pointed fingers at Chhabil and Goswami. They, however, expressed satisfaction in the ongoing probe.