Pune, 31st March 2024: A special court has granted Pune Police an extension of 30 days to file the charge sheet against 15 accused individuals involved in the murder case of gangster Sharad Mohol. Initially seeking a 90-day extension, the application for an extended deadline was submitted to the court by the crime branch. The court heard the application on Saturday (31st March) before granting the 30-day extension.

Among the 16 arrested individuals in the case, actions have been taken against them under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA). Notable among the apprehended are key facilitators Ganesh Marne and Vitthal Shelar, alongside several other accomplices. Presently, all accused are in judicial custody at Yerawada Jail. An application was filed to the court seeking an extension of 90 days to file the charge sheet against the remaining accused, excluding Ganesh Marne. However, the court granted a 30-day extension for filing the charge sheet, with the police intending to apply for an additional 60-day extension to a special MCOCA court, led by Crime Branch Assistant Commissioner of Police Sunil Tambe.

Defence counsel Adv Ketan Kadam opposed the extension, asserting that the investigation into the Mohol murder case had concluded. The police cited technical investigation requirements as the reason for the extension. Advocating for timely filing of the charge sheet, Adv Kadam indicated that bail applications on behalf of the accused would be submitted if the charge sheet is filed promptly.

Under the MCOCA Act, police can seek a maximum of 30 days of custody for investigation following an offence registration, and a 180-day time limit is stipulated for filing the charge sheet. After 90 days, an application must be submitted to the court to extend the deadline for filing the charge sheet, as per the provisions of the MCOCA Act.