Pistol seized from political aide after kidnapping

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Police on Tuesday seized a licensed pistol belonging to political functionary Sandeep Shirsath, the main accused in the abduction of a local construction businessman and his aide.

The firearm, obtained for personal protection, is now at the centre of a high-profile criminal investigation involving kidnapping, assault, and an alleged murder attempt. Authorities confirmed that Shirsath’s arms license will be revoked.

The accused, with the assistance of his brother Mithun Shirsath a constable with the city police allegedly kidnapped Abhijeet alias Bunty Barde (28), who handles government tender procedures, and builder Sharad Rathod. While Rathod was released after being assaulted, Abhijeet was detained for nearly 15 hours, during which an attempt was made on his life. Rathod's tip-off triggered swift action from CP Pravin Pawar, leading to Sandeep’s arrest and Abhijeet’s safe rescue by Sunday night.

3 caught, cop brother missing

Three of Sandeep’s aides Harsh Kamble (28), Swapnil Gaikwad (27), and Niklesh Kamble (39), all residents of Sudhakarnagar were taken into custody on Tuesday night. API Shailesh Deshmukh confirmed that the trio has been remanded to police custody till April 11. Mithun Shirsath, meanwhile, remains untraceable, with multiple teams deployed to track him down.

Pending firearm renewal application

Shirsath, who obtained the firearm license in 2012–13 citing threats to his life, had recently submitted a renewal request. However, before the process could conclude, he found himself entangled in a serious criminal case involving abduction and attempted homicide.

Criminal past of key accused harsh

Among the arrested, Harsh Kamble has a known criminal history. On March 14, he was involved in a brutal assault on a 24-year-old using a sharp weapon in Sudhakarnagar. The following day, a case was filed at Satara Police Station. Notably, he also faced legal action at the same station in 2018. Both Harsh and Swapnil are sons of police personnel, adding a grim layer to the case’s law enforcement connections.