BJP MLA's sons thrash bar staff with weapons, hockey sticks; held

Representational picture

A group clash over a discount at a bar in Nagpur resulted in the murder of a 23-year-old man on Sunday night. On Tuesday morning, the police had made one arrest in the case. Golu Paserkar, an accomplice of the bar owner's sons, was put behind bars.

The Nagpur police has also booked Vilas (alias Abhilash) and Rohit, the sons of Nagpur MLA Krishna Khopde (BJP), and nine other friends for attempt to murder and damaging property. Sunny Bambrotkar (21), the son of the bar owner, and 10 of his friends were booked for murder. Sunny's brother Shobhit, a minor, is also being examined. Abhilash was not arrested till Tuesday morning as he is being treated at a hospital. A few accused from the bar owner's side have also been booked. Khopde's younger son had not been arrested till Tuesday morning.

BJP MLA Krisha Khopde with CM Devendra Fadnavis

Fight over discount
According to the police, Vilas (23), a resident of Satranjipura, and his five friends had gone to Could 7 Bar on Sunday evening. After getting drunk, Vilas allegedly picked a quarrel with the waiter for serving their orders late. Sunny, alias Sawan Bambrotkar (21), the son of the bar owner, intervened to sort out the issue, but then they too started fighting. Sunny called the Police control room, and also contacted his father and brother Shobhit Bambrotkar.

Clash on the road
Vilas too summoned his brother Rohit who rushed to Gokulpeth Square where the two groups clashed. They used sharp weapons, hockey sticks and stones. Shubham Mahakalkar (23), friend of the Khopdes, was stabbed in his vital organs and was killed in the clash. Another of the Khopdes' friends Akshay Arun Khandare (21), too, sustained grievous injuries in the attack. Meanwhile, the staff of Ambazari Police Station reached the spot after the bloodbath. The injured were shifted to hospital.

Shubham leaves behind his parents and younger sister. Sources said the police could have avoided the clash had they tracked the movements of the two rowdy groups. Khopde told mid-day that his younger son and the deceased were innocent.