Special Investigation Team officers on Thursday arrested two accused in the murder case of Jayanti Bhanushali, former BJP MLA. Bhanushali had been found shot dead on Sayaji Nagari Express train on January 7. The two arrested were identified as Rahul Patel and Nitin Patel, business partners of former BJP MLA Chhabil Patel.

A senior police officer informed that Chhabil Patel and Manisha Goswami, a resident of Vapi, were the masterminds behind the murder. The investigation revealed that both Patel and Goswami held grudges against Bhanushali.

While Patel was Bhanushali's political rival, in 2018, a case was lodged against Goswami by Bhanushali's nephew and she was sent to judicial custody in the matter. During the time, she met a Surjeet Pardeshi aka Bhau, who helped her get out of jail and meet Chhabil Patel.

The senior police official said, "In November 2018, Goswami and Patel met with Bhau's gang in Pune and gave them a contract to kill Bhanushali. In December, the gang began to monitor Bhanushali, and found out that he was going to be travelling from Kutch to Ahmedabad on January 7."

On December 25, a sharpshooter, identified as Shashikant Kamble, reached Kutch and put up at Chhabil's farmhouse in the Reldi area. On December 31, four more gang members, including Shaikh Asraf Anwar, arrived. The two arrested on Thursday made all arrangements for the gang. Goswami reached the farmhouse on January 3 and stayed with the gang for three days.

Additional Director General of Police Ajay Tomar said, "On January 7 night, two accused boarded the train in which Bhanushali was travelling. The other three were waiting in a car before Samakhiali. After the two shot Bhanushali, they stopped the train and fled in the car."

According to senior police officials, currently, a total of ten accused have been identified in the case, including the two arrested. Eight of them, including Chhabil Patel, Manisha Goswami, Surjeet Pardeshi, Shashikant Kamble, Shaikh Asraf Anwar and three other gang members are still on the run.

LIST OF ACCUSED

According to senior police officials, currently, a total of ten accused have been identified in the case, including the two arrested. Eight of them, including Chhabil Patel, Manisha Goswami, Surjeet Pardeshi, Shashikant Kamble, Shaikh Asraf Anwar and three other gang members are still on the run.