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Pune I June 10, 2004 I The Times of India
Young Builder main accused in Vishwas Patil Murder Case.
A crime branch team led by inspector Dattatreya Datar today arrested Rohit Pandit, a young and upcoming builder from Pune, on the charges of murdering prominent builder and hotelier Vishwas Patil. It is alleged that Rohit Pandit, a 26 year old lad, paid a 'supari' of 25 Lakhs to Deepak Nikhalje alias Chotta Rajan in May 2004 to elimanate Vishwas Patil. It is alleged by the Police that Rohit Pandit and Vishwas Patil were at loggerheads over a 100 crore worth property located at Bavdhan.
Vishwas Patil, who owns a hotel in the deccan area was shot point blank on June 5 at the outskirts of Katraj Ghat, by alleged Chotta Rajan aides, the Judicial magistrate first class Sangita Khalipe remanded Rohit Pandit, who is charged under section 302 of the IPC to a police custody of 15 days, after the crime branch presented primary evidences of his conversation with Deepak Nikhalje in Malaysia from his cell phone. Rohit Pandit used to visit the deceased frequently at his office and the deceased Vishwas Patil had paid a sum of 25 Lakhs to Rohit Pandit in May 2004, which the crime branch want to probe. Also at the time of Vishwas Patils murder, Rohit Pandit was in Dubai and the crime branch want to establish his links with the underworld. The police custody was granted to the crime branch on this basis.
This is the first time in Pune wherein a nexus between the underworld and real estate builders is seen, a sight that is very prominent in Mumbai. Also Rohit Pandit, who is the CMD of the Rohit Pandit Group is a young lad of 26 years, 'this is a very exceptional case and all the factors involved in it took us all by surprise' were the reactions of ace cop Dattaray Datar. Rohit Pandit on the other hand dressed in a formal suit, maintained a very cool and calm composure even after he was sentenced to 15 days police custody and in a statement to our correspondent stated that he is innocent and true facts will come out soon.
Pune I June 24, 2004 I The Times of India
Police Custody of Vishwas Patil Murder Case accused Rohit Pandit extended.
Rohit Pandit, prime accused in the sensational 'Vishwas Patil Murder Case' has been remanded to further 15 days police custody today. The Judicial magistrate first class Sangita Khalipe had remanded Rohit Pandit, who is charged under section 302 of the IPC to a police custody of 15 days on June 10, 2004
The crime branch team led by inspector Dattatreya Datar appealed to the court that investigations in the murder case have presented a few facts that they wanted to investigate, also they want to ascertain whether Rohit Pandit has sought mediation of underworld don Deepak Nikhalje alias Chotta Rajan to settle his land dispute with the deceased Vishwas Patil, or whether he is directly involved in managing business interest of Deepak Nikhalje in Pune & Mumbai. The crime branch further presented evidences of frequent conversation between Rohit Pandit and Deepak Nikhalje, also the main shooters who killed Vishwas Patil are yet to be nabbed. Judicial magistrate first class Sangita Khalipe rejected the bail plea filed by Rohit Pandit and granted an extension to the police custody by another 15 days.
The court room was jam packed with crowd of lawyers, media and curious spectators as the case has created quite a stir, Rohit Pandit as usual dressed in a formal suit appeared a bit fazed after his bail plea was rejected. He is being represented by ace criminal lawyer Adv. Vijayrao Mohite and Adv. Dhananjay Jadhav is representing the state.
Pune I July 08, 2004 I The Times of India
Rohit Pandit bail plea rejected, summoned to 1 month Judicial Custody Instead.
Rohit Pandit, main accused in the sensational ' Vishwas Patil Murder Case' has been remanded to 1 month Judicial Custody after his bail plea was rejected for the second time. Rohit Pandit had applied for a bail at the high court which directed the case back to the Pune district court. Judicial magistrate first class Sangita Khalipe took cognizance of the fact that since this is a sensational murder case letting of the main accused can create tampering of evidence and may obstruct the course of investigation. Also the main shooters who shot Vishwas Patil point blank are yet to be identified and nabbed.
The crime branch team led by inspector Dattatreya Datar could not present any more details apart from those already known and have received a severe reprimand from the court for not filing a chargesheet in this case yet.
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Dear Mr. Ajaye,
I am extremely sorry, as a journalist I should have posted the entire series of the case right up to conclusion, please find the update of the case as mentioned below.
Pune I August 14, 2004 I The Times of India
Vishwas Patil Murder Case : Prime accused Rohit Pandit gets clean chit and acquitted of all charges
In yet another turn of events in the sensational 'Vishwas Patil Murder Case' the prime accused Rohit Pandit was acquitted of all charges in the case. Adv. Dhananjay Jadhav, representing the state in this case filed an affidavit under the Indian Penal Code section 169 on behalf of the Crime Investigation Department, seeking immediate acquittal of Rohit Pandit. The IPC Section 169, empowers the investigating agency to seek immediate acquittal of an accused when during the course of investigation they realise that the accused has been wrongly framed of the crime the accused is suspected to be involved in. Senior police inspector Dattatreya Datar told the TOI correspondent that during the course of investigation they found out that Rohit Pandit infact was a victim of threatening and extortion by the Chota Rajan gang and not the prime accused as they initially thought. He also highlighted that after the arrest of the main accused and shooter Baba Mayekar, a Chota Rajan aide and repeated history sheeter and his subsequent interrogations they realised that Rohit Pandit and Vishwas Patil both were tormented by Baba Mayekar and his gang as they intended to forcefully acquire the prime property worth Rs. 100 crores located at Bavdhan. Rohit Pandit was the initial owner of the land and he had finalised a deal to sell the land to Vishwas Patil for 25 crore rupees. Dattatreya Datar also told our correspondent that it was also revealed during investigation that the 25 lakhs paid by Vishwas Patil to Rohit Pandit in May 2004 was infact a token amount for the property deal and the same came to light after the testimony of Mrs. Subhadra Vishwas Patil.
The Judicial magistrate first class Sangita Khalipe accepting the affidavit filed by the state acquitted Rohit Pandit of all charges against him, she also reprimanded the investigating officers severely. She said that the investigating officers made hasty conclusions in this case without adequate inquiry due to which an innocent and highly educated person like Rohit Pandit had to face severe hardships like an ordinary criminal for a period of three months.
Rohit Pandit was very relaxed after the judgement and he walked out of court a free man. While speaking to our correspondent he said that this was an experience of a lifetime that he will never forget, he had a strong faith in god and he always believed in the integrity of the judicial system. It is essential to mention here that Rohit Pandit always maintained that he is innocent and wrongly framed in this case and true facts will come out soon. The court was jam packed with crowd of lawyers, media and curious spectators as the case had created quite an interest and the policemen had a lot of difficulty escorting Rohit Pandit safely out of the court premises.
posting
Dear Mr. Rajesh, I am interested in knowing the outcome of the case, can you please post the same.