Sidhu Moosewala killing: 'Shooter' Jadhav, aide nabbed from Gujarat

Tribune News Service

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Bathinda, June 13

Santosh Jadhav (24), a suspected sharpshooter in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case, and his aide Navnath Suryavanshi (27), also a suspect, were arrested from Bhuj in Gujarat today. The two were nabbed by the Pune Rural police. Teams of Punjab and Delhi police had been on the lookout for the two.

Wanted by Rajasthan Police

Abohar: Santosh Jadhav is also wanted by the Sriganganagar police in firing incidents at Tantia Group Hospital buildings on Jan 21 and Feb 17. The shooting was carried out allegedly on the directions of Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar for extorting Rs 2 cr. Jawahar Nagar police station incharge Naresh Nirman said efforts would be made to bring Jadhav for questioning on production warrant in the case. OC

In touch with Maha cops

We are in touch with the Maharashtra Police regarding the two arrests. If we find any link with the case, we will bring them here for quizzing. Gaurav Toora, mansa ssp & sit member

Suspected role in killing

We nabbed the two after receiving info from Saurabh Mahakal, held a few days ago. All are suspected to have a role in Moosewala case. Kulwant Sarangal, Maharashtra ADGP

Maharashtra Additional Director General (Law and Order) Kulwant Kumar Sarangal said: “We apprehended Jadhav and Suryavanshi after receiving information from Saurabh Mahakal, arrested a few days ago. All three are associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and are suspected to have a role in the Moosewala case. We are ascertaining their exact role.”

“Both have been arrested, they were produced in a court, which remanded them in police custody till June 20,” ADGP Sarangal added.

Mansa SSP Gaurav Toora, who is also a member of the SIT in the Moosewala case, said: “We are in touch with the Maharashtra Police regarding the two arrests. If we find any link with the case, we will bring them here for interrogation.”

It is learnt the Punjab Police have already sent a team, headed by a senior officer, to Pune for interrogation and bring Jadhav on production warrant for interrogation in the Moosewala case, as the crime took place in Mansa.

Mahakal, a member of the Bishnoi gang, was arrested in a Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) case registered against him at the Manchar police station in Pune a few days ago, after which he was also interrogated by the Delhi Police’s special cell and Punjab Police in connection with the Moosewala case.

The Pune police have arrested Jadhav in a 2021 murder case registered at the Manchar police station in Maharashtra’s Pune district. He was on the run for a year, had shaved his head and changed his appearance as well to evade arrest.

Sources in the Punjab Police claim Jadhav had links with the underworld, as he was associated with the Arun Gawli gang. The Punjab Police had shared crucial information in this respect with the Maharashtra Police. A photograph had surfaced in which Jadhav was seen with Asha Gawli, the wife of Arun Gawli. The police claimed Jadhav had connections with other gangsters too.

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