Contractor dies by suicide in Pune; ex-MLA Dhangekar, wife among 14 booked for abetment

Pune, Jul 17 (PTI) Former MLA and Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Dhangekar, his wife and 12 others have been booked for abetment after a 65-year-old contractor allegedly died by suicide in Pune, a police official has said. Khalil Shaikh took his life at his residence in the Gultekdi area, the official said on Thursday. “Before taking the extreme step, he recorded videos and wrote a suicide note, in which he named the former MLA. He also mentioned several names with whom he worked on other business projects around the city,” the official said. In the videos and the note, Shaikh claimed he was facing severe financial losses due to betrayal by business partners. Shaikh also claimed he was tense and in distress as he was receiving life threats from some of them, the official added. A case was registered against 14 people, including Dhangekar, at Swargate police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for suicide abetment, criminal breach of trust, criminal intimidation and other offences, the official said. Further probe into the case is underway, he added. Meanwhile, a Shiv Sena councillor and 15 others have been booked in Hingoli district after a man died after being shot, police have said. PTI COR BNM NR