Pune: Police Sub-Inspector Amol Ghodke of Loni Kalbhor Police Station has been suspended for allegedly tampering with evidence and indirectly assisting the main accused in a murder case. The suspension order was issued by Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil following an internal investigation.
The incident took place in Theur, Pune, where Akshay Chavan and his wife Sheetal Chavan confronted notorious criminal Bharat Tukaram Jaid and his associates for publicly urinating. The altercation escalated when the accused assaulted the couple, threw stones, and fired gunshots.
During the attack, Sheetal Chavan suffered a fatal head injury after being hit by a stone. She was rushed to a private hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries. Following her death, a murder case was registered against Jaid and his gang at Loni Kalbhor Police Station.
MCOCA Charges Against the Jaid Gang
Given the seriousness of the crime and the criminal record of the Jaid gang, Senior Police Inspector Rajendra Panhale submitted a proposal to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Dr. Rajkumar Shinde recommending action under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The proposal was approved, and the strict MCOCA charges were imposed on Bharat Jaid and seven of his associates.
Allegations Against the Investigating Officer
Sub-Inspector Amol Ghodke was assigned the murder investigation but allegedly manipulated the findings in favor of the prime accused. In his official report, Ghodke claimed that the main accused was not in the vehicle and had not traveled through the crime scene, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the investigation. Further inquiry revealed that Ghodke had indirectly assisted the accused by attempting to destroy evidence.
Suspension and Disciplinary Action
As a result, Sub-Inspector Amol Ghodke has been suspended with immediate effect. During his suspension, he is barred from undertaking any private employment and is required to report daily at the Pune Police Headquarters in Shivajinagar.
