In the case of the ‘Supari killing’ of 82-year-old Nagpur businessman Purushottam Puttewar, police investigations have revealed that the contract was valued at Rs 1 crore for assets worth over Rs 300 crore. So far, the police have seized gold and cash collectively worth Rs 17 lakhs, including cars and gold ornaments. Meanwhile, Sarthak Bagde, who was absconding in this case, has been arrested by the police. So far, arrests have also been made in connection with the case, including Archana Manish Puttewar (53), the daughter-in-law of the deceased Purushottam, and assailants Neeraj Ishwar Nimje (30) and Sachin Mohan Dharmik (29), residents of Shaktimata Nagar, Kharbi Road. Archana was working as an Assistant Director in the Town Planning Department of Gadchiroli. Both Sachin and Neeraj have been placed in extended police custody.

 

A senior police official stated that Archana, with the assistance of a relative, promised Sarthak and Sachin Rs 1 crore to murder Purushottam by running him over with a car. Initially, both were paid around Rs 17 lakhs including gold. Additionally, Archana’s relative promised Sachin a space and license for a beer bar. Hence, Sarthak and Sachin enlisted Neeraj in the conspiracy to murder Purushottam. On May 22, a plan was devised to run Purushottam over with a car. Earlier, on May 18, Archana, Sarthak, Sachin, and Neeraj met at a designated location. During the meeting, there was discussion among the four about their roles on the day of the incident. The police possess footage from this day as well. After the murder of Purushottam, Sarthak made a trip to Vaishno Devi. Upon his return to Nagpur on Monday, he was arrested by the police. Meanwhile, as Archana’s police custody ended, she was presented in court on Sunday. Police opted not to seek an extension of her custody. As a result, the court remanded her to judicial custody which created a surprise as police refrained from requesting further custody.

 

 

Previously, Ajni police had arrested Neeraj in a hit-and-run case, but he secured bail. Soon after, Neeraj began frequenting pubs with his friends and spent lakhs of rupees on expensive liquor. Police grew suspicious, and when the crime branch detained him, the mystery behind the hit-and-run was unveiled.

 

 

Sources revealed that the entire plan behind the Puttewar murder case originated in Wadsa town in Gadchiroli district by a businessman who is close to Archana. At the businessman’s behest, Archana facilitated the conversion of numerous agricultural lands into non-agricultural ones with transactions of lakhs of rupees. The businessman acted as a broker for Archana. Archana informed the businessman regarding the ongoing property dispute with her father-in-law. The businessman advised her to eliminate Puttewar and expressed willingness to purchase the property, claimed sources. The businessman was previously accused in the murder of a social worker from Gadchiroli district.