Journalist murder accused discussed intent to kill: SIT | Navi Mumbai News – Times of India

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NAVI MUMBAI: The 14-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) looking into the murder of Ratnagiri journalist Shashikant Warishe (45) has concluded that the accused, Pandharinath Amberkar (42), deliberately rammed into and ran over the two-wheeler of the journalist in a fit of rage at a petrol pump on February 6, 2023 as the journalist had written an article against him.
Amberkar, a supporter of the proposed refinery at Barsu, was angry with Warishe over his articles against the project. The chargesheet states that the latest news report by Warishe in his local Marathi paper, which questioned why a man accused of serious crimes like Amberkar was displaying banners with pictures of his own alongside those of top politicians, made him execute the murder plan.
The SIT in its 26-page chargesheet filed in a Rajapur court mentions that it had taken a mirror image of Amberkar’s phone call records, in which his conversation with a local travel agency staffer (who has been made a witness) was found. In it, Ambedkar is saying to the man, ‘I have to finish off someone (Ekacha kaam tamaam karayacha aahe)… We will do it today (Aaj karanar tyacha)… Or else I will not be able to sleep (Zop nahi lagnaar tyashivay)… Did you read the news? Wait I will send you. (Baatmi vachli? Vachli batami? Thamb pathavto).”
The article written by Warishe had carried a photo of a banner featuring Amberkar alongside the PM, CM and the deputy CM.
Amberker drove his SUV into Warishe’s two-wheeler and dragged it 275 ft on the wrong side of a flyover near a petrol pump in Rajapur. Later, he pushed the two-wheeler to the left side, said the chargesheet. On the back of the SUV was written ‘Supporter of RRPCL refinery’.
The state government had instituted an SIT probe after Warishe’s killing.
Activists have demanded a probe into Amberkar’s land deals allegedly linked to influential persons such as businessmen, ministers, MLAs, politicians, bureaucrats, police officers, MSEDCL staffers and local mediapersons.
SIT chief and deputy superintendent of police, Lanja, Sadashiv Waghmare, said, “The local travel agency staffer has confirmed the call records.”
Warishe’s elder sister Aruna Nagle said, “The accused should be hanged.”
A close friend of Warishe’s and Virar resident Santosh Govalkar said, “It was a pre-planned murder as CCTV cameras were shut at the petrol pump. There were issues at the hospital. The SIT probe should dig out the link of Devache Gothane village leaders with the accused.” Activist Narendra Joshi said, “The land deals should be thoroughly probed to bring out more details.”
Asked about it, deputy SP Waghmare said, “We have obtained some of the land transaction-related documents during the probe. All this will be produced in court.” The SIT comprising 14 members includes four officers who recorded the statement of the complainant. There were 30 who acted as panch, and there are 93 witnesses. The accused has been booked for murder (302) and destruction of evidence (201) under IPC and for violation and damage or loss of property (Section 4) of The Maharashtra Media Persons and Media Institutions Act, 2017.

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