Jaipur: Kota police Sunday arrested two more persons in connection with the murder of Chandresal Math mahant Devanand, including an employee of the archaeology and museums dept and a priest residing at the math. With the latest arrests, the total number of accused held in the case has risen to seven.Kota City SP Tejaswini Gautam identified the accused as Mahavir Prasad Pareta (58), a monument promoter with the archaeology and museums dept, and Nandan Ban (50), a priest residing at Chandresal Mahadev Math. Police alleged that both played an active role in the conspiracy behind the murder.Mahant Devanand was attacked with sharp-edged weapons inside the math in the Borkheda area on the night of June 5. He was later found critically injured outside his room and was declared dead at a hospital.According to investigators, the two newly arrested accused allegedly met the assailants four days before the murder and provided information about the math, its layout and the mahant’s daily routine during a reconnaissance visit.Police said the conspirators allegedly planned to break into the math’s safe and steal cash after the killing. Investigators also suspect they intended to set fire to a vehicle parked outside the premises to make the crime appear to be a robbery or dacoity.The probe further revealed that the accused allegedly expected to gain influence over the management of the math and its properties following the murder.The main accused, Santosh Rai, along with four others, had already been arrested in the case. Rai and one of the alleged assailants were arrested on June 11, while three more accused, including a woman, were apprehended near Daund railway station in Maharashtra on June 13. A minor has also been detained in connection with the case.Police said the involvement of Mahavir and Nandan came to light during the interrogation of the previously arrested accused, leading to their arrest.
