Ex-Guj MLA Bhanushali’s Murder: Family Says Probe on ‘Right Track’

The SIT arrested two persons who are said to be aides of former BJP MLA Chhabil Patel, the main accused.

Former BJP MLA Chhabil Patel (left) is the main accused in the cold-blooded murder of Jayanti Bhanushali.

(Photo: The Quint)

The investigation is “on the right track,” said Nitin Bhanushali, nephew of former Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Gujarat, Jayanti Bhanushali, who was killed three weeks ago.

On 24 January, sleuths from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the murder case arrested two persons who are said to be aides of the main accused – former BJP MLA Chhabil Patel. The latter had allegedly fled to Muscat days before the cold-blooded murder.

Jayanti Bhanushali was shot dead on a moving train by unidentified assailants on 8 January.

Nitin told The Quint that the family was “satisfied” with the government-appointed SIT probe.

“The investigation is on the right track. We have full confidence that justice will be served. Once the SIT is through with its report, we are sure Chhabil Patel will be extradited, and will be made to face the law of the land.”

Nitin Bhanushali

In his complaint, Sunil Bhanushali, another nephew of the deceased, had alleged that Patel had demanded that Jayanti Bhanushali retire from politics. He further alleged that when he refused to do so, he was murdered.

Gujarat BJP Suspends Chhabil Patel

The Gujarat BJP on 25 January suspended its leader and former MLA Patel from the party after the probe revealed that he was behind Jayanti Bhanushali’s murder.

The two arrested persons, Nitin Patel and Rahul Patel, had brought two “sharp shooters” from Pune – Shahshikant Kamble and Ashraf Shaikh – to Patel’s farmhouse in Kutch before they executed Jayanti Bhanushali on the train.

In a press conference on 24 January, Ajay Tomar, Additional Director General of Police, CID-Crime, said Patel and co-accused Manisha Goswami had a grudge against Jayanti Bhanushali over various issues, including financial dealings.

“They hired two sharp shooters from Pune and kept them at Chhabil Patel’s farmhouse in Kutch in December last year. The sharp shooters fired two rounds on Bhanushali as soon as he opened the door of his coupe upon hearing knocks. Kamble and Shaikh fled from the compartment after pulling the chain near Samakhiyali station. They then fled to Pune via Radhanpur in a vehicle provided by their aides.”

Ajay Tomar

Cops are yet to trace Vapi-based Goswami’s whereabouts.

(With inputs from PTI)