Was Political Dominance the Motive? Two Arrested in Bunty Jahagirdar Murder

Ahilyanagar, 2nd January 2026: Police have arrested two youths in connection with the murder of Bunty Jahagirdar, an accused in the Pune bomb blast case. The accused have been identified as Krishna Arun Shingare (23) and Ravindra Gautam Nikale (23). Jahagirdar’s last rites were performed on Thursday in Shrirampur amid tight police security and a tense atmosphere.

According to a complaint lodged by Jahagirdar’s cousin and municipal councillor, Rais Abdulgani Sheikh, the murder was allegedly carried out due to political rivalry and issues of dominance.

Bunty Jahagirdar was named as an accused in several serious cases, including the bomb blast on Pune’s Jangli Maharaj Road. He was granted bail by the High Court two years ago in the blast case. On Wednesday afternoon, while returning from a funeral at a cemetery in Shrirampur, Jahagirdar was allegedly attacked by two assailants who arrived on a motorcycle. He was shot multiple times and died on the spot. His associate, Amin Gulab Sheikh, who was accompanying him, sustained injuries in the attack.

Following the incident, Jahagirdar’s body was taken under police security to Ghati Hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for post-mortem examination late Wednesday night. His funeral was conducted in Shrirampur on Thursday morning, with leaders from various political parties in attendance.

Meanwhile, police formed three special teams to trace the attackers. One of the teams arrested both accused near Sangamner late Wednesday night. District Superintendent of Police Somnath Gharge confirmed that the accused have confessed to their involvement in the murder.

Three Brothers Named in Complaint
In his complaint to the Shrirampur police, Rais Sheikh alleged that the murder was linked to political dominance and named three brothers in connection with the case. He stated that Jahagirdar had been active in politics for the past 15 to 20 years. His mother had earlier served as a municipal councillor, and after her death, Sheikh’s wife was elected to the post.

According to the complaint, Jahagirdar’s social and political work had given him significant influence in Shrirampur city and taluka. Sheikh further alleged that during the 2024 Assembly elections, Jahagirdar worked for the sitting MLA and played a role in the victory. Similarly, he was active during municipal elections and supported the mayoral candidate.

The complaint alleges that an organised crime gang allegedly operated by three brothers was facing setbacks in both criminal and political activities due to Jahagirdar’s influence. One of the brothers had reportedly lost the Assembly election by a narrow margin and was said to be harbouring resentment. The brothers allegedly hired shooters to eliminate Jahagirdar. It was also mentioned that a provocative threat had been publicly issued against him in a speech prior to the killing.

Road Blockade by Supporters
Jahagirdar’s funeral was held amid heavy police deployment. When the body was brought to Maulana Azad Chowk, relatives and supporters blocked the road, stating that they would not allow the funeral procession to proceed until the accused were arrested. The situation was brought under control after police informed the crowd that two suspects had been taken into custody.

Several political leaders visited Jahagirdar’s residence, including MLA Hemant Ogle, Mayor Karan Sasane, Congress district president Sachin Gujar, and Market Committee chairman Sudhir Navale.

Police Monitoring Social Media
A large police force, including two units of the State Reserve Police (SRP), has been deployed across Shrirampur city. Police are closely monitoring social media platforms. Superintendent of Police Somnath Gharge warned that strict action would be taken against anyone posting objectionable, inflammatory or misleading content, or spreading rumours related to the incident.