Gujarat: Former BJP leader found dead with gunshot wound inside train

Former BJP MLA Jayanti Bhanushali was allegedly shot dead by unidentified men on board a moving train in Kutch district in the wee hours of Tuesday. He had gunshot injuries to his head and chest and two empty cases of bullets were also found near him on board the Sayajinagari Express. The police said that Bhanushali himself was also carrying a firearm but added that investigation was underway to ascertain if it is a case of murder or suicide.

Jagdishsinh Raol, Deputy Superintendent of police of Ahmedabad division of Gujarat Railway Police said the incident took place between Bhachau and Samakhiyali railway stations. “Prima facie, it appears that at least two gunshots hit Bhanushali. A fellow passenger woke up when the train was approaching Maliya railway station and found Bhanushali bleeding. He woke up other passengers and then police were alerted,” said Raol.

“Police got an alert that one passenger in a First-Class AC coach was bleeding. So, policemen on board the train as well as police sub-inspector of Gandhidham were directed to check what was the matter and the train was halted at Maliya station. Bhanushali was found dead, with gunshot injuries to his head and chest. Two empty cases of bullets were also found from the coach,” Bhavna Patel, superintendent of police of Western Railway told The Indian Express told.

Police said that Bhanushali, who is a native of Abdasa taluka of Kutch district had boarded the train from Bhuj and was on his way to Ahmedabad. According to the initial investigation, the incident took place between 1:30 am and 2 am on Tuesday. “We are questioning other passengers of the coach in which Bhanushali was travelling. We are ascertaining the total number of passengers in the coach. However, according to primary information, one passenger had boarded the coach from Gandhidham railway station,” the SP said.

The 53-year-old politician was embroiled in two controversies last year. In April, his nephew Sunil Bhanushali had filed a complaint of extortion against a 34-year-old woman of Kutch. However, in her bail application, the woman had alleged that Jayanti Bhanushali had raped her and that Sunil filed the extortion case at the instance of his uncle. She had claimed that Bhanushali got her booked so that she could be prevented from exposing “a sex scandal.”

In July last year, a 21-year-old woman from Surat had filed a complaint against Bhanushali, alleging the BJP leader raped her repeatedly after promising her secure admission to a reputed fashion designing institute. After Surat police booked him for rape, Bhanushali had resigned as vice-president of Gujarat unit of the BJP.  This FIR was quashed by Gujarat High Court after the victim consented.

A cotton trader by profession, Bhanushali had been elected MLA from Abdasa Assembly constituency in Kutch district in 2007. However, he was defeated by Chhabil Patel of Congress in 2012. Chhabil Patel defected to the BJP in 2014 but his rivalry continued.