Pune: Twelve individuals were sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of a social activist Sachin Shelar in Hadapsar in 2014. The convicts have also been fined ₹5 lakh each, with an additional one-year imprisonment if the fine is not paid.
Furthermore, ₹10 lakh from the fines will be given to the victim's wife, as ordered by Special District and Sessions Judge P.P. Jadhav.
The convicts are Amit Arjun Falle, Anil Tukaram Somwanshi, Anil Subhash Rakh, Dhanaji Ananda Vanangde, Ashutosh Ashok Butte Patil, Ganesh Ramanu Chavan, Dheeraj Anil Dhangre, Anil Bapu Mane, Rajendra Ravaso Kamble, Amit Chandrakant Ghadge, Jagannath Kerba Chougule, and Babasaheb Bhagwan Harne. The victim, Sachin Shahaji Shelar (32), resided in Kaleborate Nagar, Hadapsar.
Sachin Shelar, known for his social work, had a disagreement with the accused. His growing popularity due to his community service had made him a target. On September 27, 2014, the accused attacked and killed Sachin with sickles, inflicting 56 wounds.
The Hadapsar police took action against the accused under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The accused had been in jail for nine years following the murder.
Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar represented the government, presenting testimony from 20 witnesses. Although the trial was delayed, leading the accused to apply for bail in the High Court, they were eventually granted bail before the final verdict. After being sentenced to life imprisonment, the accused were sent back to jail.
The investigation was led by then Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajan Bhogale. Senior Police Inspector Santosh Pandhare from Hadapsar Police Station, along with Crime Branch Inspectors Mangal Modhve and Umesh Gite, and Police Constables Mahesh Pawar, Avinash Gosavi, and Sambhaji Mahangare, assisted in the judicial proceedings.
