Cops solve UoP guard's murder

4 persons arrested have been remanded in police custody till December 3

Pune police have cracked the murder case of a security guard Prahlad Laxman Jogdandkar (54), which had happened at the University of Pune campus about a year and a half ago.

File Pic

The accused have been identified as Manish Ramvilas Nagori alias Manya alias Rajubhai (24), Rahul Sakharam Mali (21), Vikas Ramavatar Khandelwal (22) and Santosh alias Sunny Ananta Bagade (22) -- all residents of Ichalkaranji in Kolhapur. They were taken into custody from Mumbra, and were produced before a judicial magistrate in Thane court.

Their custody was then transferred in the University murder case and the accused were brought to Pune yesterday and produced before Judicial Magistrate (First Class) K M Pingle. They have been remanded in police custody till December 3.

Jogdandkar was shot dead on the night of May 3, 2012 near the Geography department. He was on patrolling duty along with colleague Babasaheb Prakash Nikalje (31) of Rangehills in Khadki. Nikalje had filed a complaint against the accused in the murder case.

Public Prosecutor S D Datrange demanded police custody of the accused, arguing that the police are yet to recover the weapon and arrest another absconding accused, Heena, who is wife of Nagori. Heena is presently out on bail in another offence. Besides this, police have to find out who gave shelter to the accused after they committed the crime and from where they procured the weapon.u00a0

Background
While on duty, Jogdandkar had spotted a couple and asked them to leave the campus or pay a fine of Rs 5,000. The unidentified man had told Jogdandkar that he had only Rs 500, but demanded Rs 100 back. When Jogdandkar refused to return the money, the man allegedly fired at the guard and fled from the spot along with his girlfriend.