Monk's death case: 2, including builder Lakdawala, surrender

Mumbai, Jan 10 (UNI) Two persons, including builder Lakdawala who is the prime accused in the mysterious death case of a Buddhist monk here, today surrendered before the Deonar police.

Manohar Jadhav first surrendered before the police this morning while Lakdwala gave himself up later in the day.

Jadhav was produced before a metropolitan magistrate's court which remanded him in police custody till January 16.

Apart from Lakdawala and Jadhav, two more persons -- Dr Vivek Kolekar and Arun Kamble -- have been named in the FIR registered with the Deonar police. A complaint in this regard had been lodged by Nandbodhi Boddha.

Police had registered a murder case against the builder and the three others for their alleged involvement in the mysterious death of Buddha Bhante Bhadhant Sanghraj on January 6.

The 75-year-old monk was found hanging from the ceiling of his home at Gautam Nagar in Deonar in north-east Mumbai. The deceased, who was an executive member of the ''Boudh Vihar Committee'', is suspected to have had a dispute with the builder over a piece of land belonging to the Boudh Vihar.

Jadhav, who resides at Gautam Nagar in Deonar, while surrendering, told the police that he was doing so although he is innocent. He has been falsely implicated in the case but was surrendering as he wanted to help the police in the investigations, he told the police.

UNI ST/GS MAZ SV RAI1855