‘Aggressive’ cop now blamed for Ghatkopar jeweller’s murder

MUMBAI: Sachin Pawar, main accused for the kidnapping and killing of Ghatkopar jeweller Rajeshwar Udani, has now blamed his friend, police constable Dinesh Pawar for the murder.
Sachin told police he had used Sahista Khan and Nikhat Khan to trap Udani in a compromising video and blackmail him, but he did not give the order to kill him.


He said Dinesh was short-tempered and aggressive. He said he had told Sahista to get a young girl who would only “act” and record a video of Udani in a compromising position in a bungalow in Panvel, where, Udani was told, they would have a rave party.

But Sachin said things went wrong in the car when Dinesh, Mahesh Bhoir, his cousin Proneet Bhoir and Siddesh Patil entered it after crossing Mulund-Airoli bridge. Udani was picked up by Bhoir and Nikhat from Vikhroli on November 27.

“Within few minutes, Dinesh tried to feed Udani a cake, which he refused, as he was diabetic. Dinesh then started hitting him. Others too hit Udani as he kept asking them why they were doing that, and in the melee, Dinesh and Mahesh smothered Udani, while Nikhat looked on,’’ said a source.

Nikat, promised Rs 5 lakh, was told that Udani was a film director and she had to act and impress him. Nikhat was allegedly “supplied” by her cousin, Sahista, alias Dolly, from Lokhandwala Complex in Andheri. Sahista knew Sachin as he used to do short videos for Harsh Media Hoardings. “Dinesh is silent. He is confused or is trying to mislead us,’’ said a senior police officer.

Police said Sahista and Nikhat hid facts. They said Udani was killed in front of Nikhat, and after returning home the next day, she had narrated her ordeal to Sahista.

Sahista’s relative rubbished police claims, saying Sahista was a beautician and on Sachin’s request had sent her cousin Nikhat to Udani for a commercial shoot. “Sachin said he was giving Nikhat a break and she only had to act. After the murder, Sachin had threatened both. Sachin was influential and politically connected. Why will she not get scared when a murder took place in front of her? She has just crossed her 20s,” said her cousin.

Police on Wednesday arrested seventh accused, Siddesh Patil (23), from Dongri. Deputy commissioner of police (zone 7) Akhilesh Singh said Patil played a role in the crime’s execution. He will be produced in court on Thursday. Mahesh, Sahista and Nikhat were produced before 73rd metropolitan magistrate Deepali Kaduskar, who remanded them to police custody till December 17.

Police also recovered Udani’s gold chain, seven diamond-studded rings, mobile phones and purse at Dinesh’s behest.

Additional commissioner of police (east region) Lakhmi Gautam said they were awaiting the DNA test report, and once it comes in, they will hand over Udani’s body to his family for conducting last rites.