Sharad Pawar house attack: Gamdevi police arrest suspended ST staffer

Sandip Girdhar Godbole (in white) was produced at Killa court on Thursday. Pic/Suresh Karkera

The Gamdevi police arrested the 116th accused from Nagpur, in the case of MSRTC employees protest at NCP chief's Sharad Pawar residence on Thursday. They also found an audio clip of the incident and how the accused were behind it. The Gamdevi police also found WhatsApp messages of the accused that showed how they used the media and tried to get more people to join the protest. The arrested 116th accused was identified as Sandip Girdhar Godbole, 47, a suspended ST employee. The police said he played the key role in the protest.

The complainant, Satish Pundalik, 45, is a police constable who received all the information from his sources after the protest on April 8.
Prime accused advocate Gunratna Sadavarte invited all ST employees on social media to join the protest outside Pawar's residence Silver Oak estate, Bhulabhai Desai Road. They also decided to protest outside MPs, MLAs, and other political leaders' houses. Sadavarte's wife Jayshree Patil, an advocate, has also been made a wanted accused in the case.

In the audio conversation (see box) police found that chappals had been left by the protestors outside Pawar's residence on purpose before the protest started. The protesters used these chappals and stones to throw at the police. The police also found that they were to protest outside Sanjay Raut's, Nawab Malik's and Anil Parab's residences. The protestors had also decided not to allow Pawar to leave his house on April 12. The police said the entire plan was decided on WhatsApp and sent through audio clips to people by Sadavarte.

How the police acted

With the help of CCTV cameras police found that 100-150 people gathered at DB Road and they were moving towards Pawar's residence on April 8. They reached the residence at 3.27 pm.

The accused Sadavarte started sending messages to the media and people from 10.30 am to 2.00 pm. Godbole asked Sadavarte to send reporters to the spot.

The police misguided the mob that the neighbour's house was Pawar's residence. The mob entered that house. When the police managed to get them out of that house the protesters started throwing stones and chappals. The protesters also broke the barricades and manhandled the police officers. The police nabbed around 24 women and 81 men. Constable Shree Avhad fell unconscious after he was seriously injured seriously and was rushed to a hospital.

The conversation

This was in an audio clip (on mobile phone) of the conversation between arrested accused Abhishek Patil and Godbole
Abhishek: Hello,
Sandip: Bol Abhishek.
Abhishek: Tithech jau ya (We have to go there)
Sandip: Yes, go there only.
Abhishek: We will leave chappals outside the bungalow. We also came early. We also took photos. There are so many people outside Sharad Pawar's bungalow. Whatever we have to do, we will do and others will sit quietly. After reaching there I also informed Saheb. Mudliyar Patil just arrived. Till late night all of us will be in the maidan. Should I not come after having a bath at 9 am?
Sandip: Where are you all now?
Abhishek: We gave money to people for tickets (to arrive by bus and gather at Azad Maidan) and they are leaving now. Around 100-200 are men and 70-80 are women.
Sandip: Ask where the petrol pump is
Abhishek: There is no media at the petrol pump.
Sandip: The media is there.
Abhishek: Yes, the media is there. Bye.
Sandip: Bye.