Swati Mohol, wife of slain gangster Sharad Mohol, expressed on Monday that she was the wife of a ‘Hindutvawadi’ and would continue to work for the Hindutva cause.
Swati holds a position in the women’s wing of the Pune unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party. She made these remarks while speaking to media representatives during the visit of BJP MLA Nitesh Rane to her home in Sutardara in the Kothrud area of Pune city.
“I have faith in the police. The incident (of murder) took place because my husband was doing Hindutva work. And if they (who murdered Mohol) feel that this will break us, then I want to tell them that I am the wife of a Hindutvawadi. He was a tiger and I am his tigress, I will continue to work for the cause of Hindutva till my last breath,” said Swati.
Swati also met with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Pune on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Rane stated that his visit was not political. “The Mohol family has been working for the cause of Hindutva. Swati Mohol is a BJP office-bearer. We have worked together during several agitations. It is my duty as a Hindu to stand with her in such a situation of grief. Be it day or night, Swati and her husband always stood with Hindutva activists. She should not stop and take the Hindutva work forward…. Investigation (in Sharad Mohol murder) is on. Family has shared information with the police department. Outcome of the investigation will be known in the coming days,” he said.
Rane further said, “I appeal to the media not to tarnish the image of Sharad Mohol. The circumstances that dragged him into crime are not known to the media. The way he worked for the Hindutva cause was not easy….”
CCTV footage shows how gangster #SharadMohol was shot dead in Pune’s Kothrud https://t.co/JDE24HU0OY pic.twitter.com/nO5k5WfY02
— Express Pune Resident Editor (@ExpressPune) January 6, 2024
Sharad Mohol was shot dead by a group of men including his associate in a lane near his residence in Sutardara around 1.20 pm on Friday. A native of Mutha village in Mulshi taluka of Pune district, Mohol was booked in nearly 15 crimes in the past. He was also convicted by a court for the murder of rival gangster Kishor Marne. But he was granted bail in this case by the Bombay High Court.
The most sensational case against Sharad Mohol was murder of alleged Indian Mujahideen terrorist Qateel Siddiqui in Yerwada jail premises in June 2012. He and his aide Alok Bhalerao had allegedly strangled Qateel using a string of Bermuda shorts at the highly secured Anda cell of the Yerwada jail. Both were acquitted by a court in Pune in June 2019.
After being released from jail, Mohol got associated with various Hindutva groups. Many Hindutva activists called him a “Hindu don”. His wife joined the BJP and actively participated in party work. The couple were visible in several social activities as well as Hindutva agitations in Pune city and other parts.
Meanwhile, police have so far arrested eight persons including two lawyers in the murder case. Police said key accused Sahil alias Munna Santosh Polekar (20), who fired bullets on Mohol was working for him.
Police suspect Polekar, his uncle Namdev Mahipati Kangude (35) of Bhugaon in Mulshi and accomplice Vitthal Kisan Gandle (34) had a previous dispute over money and land dealing with Mohol. Police suspect they allegedly conspired with other accused, procured firearms and then attacked Mohol with a proper planning. Police suspect that Polekar joined Mohol with the purpose of keeping a watch on him.