Journalist's death in Maharashtra: Murder charge invoked against accused

08 February,2023 06:44 PM IST |  Mumbai  |  PTI

Several media organisations had demanded probe into Warishe`s death, claiming that he had written against Amberkar. Amberkar (42) was arrested on Tuesday under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code. Police have now also added section 302 (murder) to the FIR, an official said

Journalist Shashikant Warishe. Pic/Twitter


A case of murder was registered on Wednesday against a land dealer, said to be a supporter of an ambitious but controversial refinery project, for allegedly mowing down a journalist with his car in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district.

Shashikant Warishe, who wrote for Marathi newspapers, died at a hospital in Kolhapur on Tuesday after an SUV allegedly driven by Pandharinath Amberkar hit his two-wheeler at a petrol pump in Rajapur area on Monday.

Several media organisations had demanded probe into Warishe's death, claiming that he had written against Amberkar. Amberkar (42) was arrested on Tuesday under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code. Police have now also added section 302 (murder) to the FIR, an official said.

A local court has remanded him in police custody till February 13.

Police are investigating the exact motive behind the alleged murder, the official added. Earlier, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Patrakar Parishad, a federation of Marathi journalists, had met Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis and sought a probe into Warishe's death.

Also read: Maha: PUCL shocked over killing of journalist Shashikant Warishe; demands immediate cessation of land acquisition for refinery project

The Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemical project, earlier proposed to be built at Nanar village in Ratnagiri district in coastal Konkan, was scrapped before the 2019 polls at the instance of the Shiv Sena, the then alliance partner of the ruling BJP.

The Union government had last year hinted at its revival. Meanwhile, the People's Union For Civil Liberties (PUCL), a human rights organization, on Wednesday demanded "totally independent" and "free of any influence" probe and compensation for the slain journalist's family.

The Maharashtra government should stop any attempt to influence the investigation politically, it said. It also demanded that the government should ensure safety of Warishe's family as well as witnesses in the case.

"The government should desist from setting up or allowing polluting industries that endanger the ecosystem of the Konkan," PUCL statement added.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
mumbai ratnagiri maharashtra mumbai news news india Crime News
Related Stories