Pune: Businessman Arrested for Attempted Murder of Two; Stockpile of Firearms Seized

Pune : In a shocking incident, a businessman attempted to kill two individuals over a financial dispute by shooting them. In connection with the case, Pune rural police have seized a large cache of firearms, including 175 gun cartridges, 40 pistol cartridges, two barrels, and three empty magazines, from the accused businessman, Bapu Shitole. Superintendent of Police (SP) Pankaj Deshmukh informed in a press conference that accomplices who assisted the businessman have also been arrested.

The accused have been identified as Bapu alias Dashrath Vitthal Shitole (46), Nilima Bapu alias Dashrath Shitole (42), Jignesh Dashrath Shitole (19), Asha Suresh Bhosale (52), and Nikhil Ashok Bhosale (25), all residents of Inamdarwasti, Koregaon, Uruli Kanchan, Taluka Haveli. The court has remanded the accused to police custody until September 18.

The victims, Kaluram Mahadev Gote (from Bhivari, District Haveli) and Sharad Kailas Gote, were shot in the incident. Kaluram, who sustained three gunshot wounds, is currently receiving treatment at Nobel Hospital. One bullet was fired at Sharad Gote.

The altercation stems from a land transaction of Rs 40 lakh between Bapu Shitole and the two farmers, Kaluram and Sharad Gote, 1.5 years ago. When the farmers demanded payment, Bapu Shitole called them to his house under the pretext of settling the debt. However, in a fit of anger, he fired four shots at the two, injuring Kaluram in his arm and leg.

The superintendent of police, Pankaj Deshmukh, visited the crime scene following the incident. After receiving information that the main accused, Bapu Shitole, was hiding in a field, the police arrested him. During interrogation, Shitole admitted to the crime. His family members who assisted in the attack were also apprehended by the authorities.

This action was taken by the team of Superintendent of Police Pankaj Deshmukh, Additional Superintendent Ganesh Biradar, Sub Divisional Officer Bapurao Dadas, Police Inspector Avinash Shilimkar, Police Inspector from Yawat Narayan Deshmukh, Police Inspector from Uruli Shankar Patil, Assistant Inspector Rahul Gawde, Dyaneshwar Bajigire, Assistant Police Inspector Sapange, Police Sub Inspector Amit Sid-Patil, Kashinath Rajapure, Police Ammaldar Balasaheb Karande, Sachin Ghadge, Ajit Bhujbal, Asif Sheikh, Yogesh Nagargoje, Mangesh Thigle, Dheeraj Jadhav, Vijay Kanchan, Vinod Pawar, Swapnil Ahivale, Balasaheb Khadke, Ajit Kale, Ramesh Bhosale, Pramod Gaikwad, Praveen Chaudhar, and Manisha Kutwal.