2 more arrested for murder of jeweler in Darjeeling

EOI, DARJEELING, JANUARY 24, 2023: The Darjeeling Police with the help of their counterpart in Maharashtra have arrested two more persons in connection with the murder of a businessman in Darjeeling town on January 12.Sachin Deshmukh 42 and Gautam Prakashmali 22 were arrested by the Mumbai police on January 21 from their respective houses and brought to Darjeeling on Tuesday.

“We have brought the two arrested on transit remand. The court in Darjeeling has given us 10 days’ police remand for further interrogation. One more accused is still absconding in Maharashtra,” said Additional Superintendent of Police, Amar Ganapati Kumbhar.

On January 12, Pradip Ojha, a jeweler and businessman, was found in an injured state in his apartment at Guddi Road in Darjeeling. Upon being shifted to the district hospital Ojha, was declared dead by the doctor. The Darjeeling police registered a case and on investigation arrested Nitin Kale and Ashutosh Girikar.

A guard of the apartment had identified Kale and Girikar. Kumbhar said during interrogation Kale and Girikar informed them about the involvement of three others in the crime, including Deshmukh and Prakashmali.“We informed the Maharashtra police who arrested the two but a third is still on the run. The Mumbai police are working to catch the absconder,” he said.

Apparently, Kale, who also owns a jewellery shop in the town had asked the others to come to Darjeeling with the promise of giving them jobs. “The three (Deshmukh, Prakashmali and the absconder) reached Darjeeling on January 8.They stayed in Kale’s house and then shifted to a hotel.

We have found that Kale was the main conspirator,” said Kumbhar, adding that Prakashmali already had police cases in Mumbai. On the fateful day, Kale and one other were keeping watch outside Ojha’s apartment, while Prakashmali, Deshmukh and Girikar entered the house. “Initially the intention was to rob Ojha with the expectation that he might have jewellery in his apartment. But when Ojha confronted them, they murdered him,” said the senior police official.

A mobile phone, gold chain and laptop were seized from the arrested persons.