Nagpur: The Crime Branch has started investigation in the attempted murder case registered about 20 months after Nagpur Regional Transport Office (RTO) officer Sanket Gaikwad sustained a bullet injury from his service revolver. The Crime Branch has booked an unidentified person in the case at Bajaj Nagar Police Station. Gaikwad had initially told police that the revolver went off accidentally at his residence in Bajaj Nagar on May 5, 2022.
As a part of investigation, the city police have issued notices to Regional Transport Office’s (RTO) Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) Sanket Gaikwad, his wife Komal Gaikwad, Woman MVI Geeta Shejwal, her husband MVI Abhijeet Manjre and MVI Veersen Dhawale to remain present before the Crime Branch on Monday to record their statements, police officials said.
Commissioner of Police (CP) Amitesh Kumar said that notices have been issued under Section 41 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to the five persons to record their statement and unravel the mystery behind the attempted murder case. Another official said that the investigation was transferred to the Crime Branch from Bajaj Nagar Police Station.
A detailed statement of Dr Sudhir Deshmukh has already been recorded by the Crime Branch officials. The police have seized an X-ray report of injuries at the legs of Sanket Gaikwad which suggest an attempt to murder angle in the case. MVI Gaikwad is stationed at Pimpri Chinchwad, while WMVI Shejwal is currently assigned to the Ahmednagar RTO. MVI Manjre is currently suspended, and Komal Gaikwad is employed as an engineer with PWD. MVI Dhawale is posted at RTO Nagpur (East).
According to police, MVI Gaikwad had initially reported that on May 5, 2022, while wearing it for duty, his service revolver fell as a result of a rat encounter. The gun discharged, with the bullet passing through his left calf and lodging in his right calf. Gaikwad received treatment at a private hospital, and the incident was reported to the Bajaj Nagar Police Station.
Acting on a tip-off, CP Kumar had directed the Crime Branch to investigate the case. During the investigation, the Crime Branch officials found that Gaikwad had provided misleading information and false statements to the police. Statements from witnesses, including WMVI Gita Bhaskar Shejwal, Veersen Dhawale, Komal Sanket Gaikwad, did not align with the technical evidence obtained during the inquiry, said police.
It was revealed that the bullet was intentionally fired, not accidentally discharged as initially claimed. A senior police officer stated that an unidentified person, with the intention of killing Gaikwad, took the MVI Gaikwad’s service revolver, aimed at him, and fired a shot. The investigation also discovered discrepancies in the statements of others present at the scene which indicated a coordinated effort to mislead the police and conceal the true nature of the incident.
Senior cops are checking whether the firing was a result of some personal enmity or related to the controversies surrounding the RTO office.
Police department was unconvinced by documents at the private hospital where Gaikwad was treated. A doctor was summoned to record a statement, especially to get details of the surgery on Gaikwad.
Cops are also checking whether the firing led to any hole or bullet mark on Gaikwad’s trouser. The probe by Bajaj Nagar police had not looked into this. Police may also invoke an offence of destruction of evidence in the case.
