PUNE: Former MLA and Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Dhangekar, his wife, and 12 others have been booked in connection with the alleged suicide of a 65-year-old contractor in Pune, police said. The deceased, identified as Khalil Shaikh, allegedly died by suicide at his residence in the Gultekdi area. Police said the incident came to light on Thursday, according to news agency PTI.“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. According to police, Shaikh alleged in the videos and the note that he had suffered heavy financial losses due to betrayal by his business partners. Shaikh also claimed he was under stress and distress as he had allegedly been receiving threats to his life from some of them, the official added. Based on the complaint and evidence recovered, Swargate police registered a case against 14 people, including Dhangekar, under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to abetment of suicide, criminal breach of trust, criminal intimidation and other offences. “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. Police said further investigation into the case is underway. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a Shiv Sena councillor and 15 others have been booked in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district after a man died from a gunshot injury, police said.
