Crime branch cop’s car used in murder?

Nagpur: Amit Ambade, 32, who was slapped with Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA), was stabbed to death by four assailants at Shree Nagar late on Saturday. The mastermind, Shirkant Guhe, who is now in police custody, too was earlier booked in a case of narcotics.

Apart from Guhe, others named in the murder have been identified as Nilesh Mandaskar, Vicky Saneshwar and Azhar Habib Sheikh alias Ajju.

Sources claimed that Guhe operated his ‘business’ near the CRPF gate area from where he allegedly supplied and retailed marijuana. Unconfirmed sources also claimed that Guhe had tipped off anti-narcotics cell of the crime branch on several occasions. Senior officers, however, denied Guhe was a police informer.

It was learnt that Ambade was demanding a stake in the ‘business’ run by Guhe and was also demanding money from him. Police said Ambade had thrashed Mandaskar, a close associate of Guhe, before the gang decided to eliminate him.

Ambade, who owned an eatery at Isasani, had shifted his base to Shree Nagar after his marriage. It was learnt that Ambade was returning home from his eatery when he was targeted by the accused.

The car, in which the assailants followed Ambade before pinning him down, is learnt to be earlier owned by a cop from the crime branch, but is now in possession of Guhe. According to ‘parivahan.gov.in’, a woman is still being shown as owner of the car, but Ajni police station’s PI Sandipan Pawar claimed he is yet to ascertain the ownership.

It was learnt that two CCTV cameras, installed in the area where the murder took place, have captured the murder.

Guhe has been rounded up with the joint efforts of crime branch, special squad of DCP Zone IV G Shreedhar and Ajni police, informed DCP Ranjan Kumar Sharma during a press conference on Sunday.

The latest murder of Ambade, earlier accused of gang rape and murder of trader Bharat Khatwani at Sitabuldi, has also brought to fore an insidious link between criminals and a section of cops.