Three get lifer in Shiv Sena leader's murder case

Mumbai, Feb 28 (UNI) The Kalyan Sessions Court today sentenced three persons to life imprisonment for murdering a Shiv Sena leader at Dombivali in neighbouring Thane district in 2005.

Pronouncing the judgement here Kalyan Session Court Judge Shobha Varma said that the accused -- Kundan Harichandra Bhole (26), Sanchin Ajit Bhole (28) and Deepak alias Babu Kasiram Kalambe (26) -- were found guilty and have been punished under section 302 (murder) of IPC . However, three other accused, who were arrested, were acquitted.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujwal Nikam said that the three accused had brutally murdered Shiv Sena leader Gopichand Tukaram Mhatre following political rivalry on February 9, 2005.

The court upheld the prosecution's arguement and sentenced the trio to life imprisonment.

Dispute over the allotment of party tickets during the last Dombivali municipal council elections was the reason behind the murder.

Gopichand Mhatre was allowed by the Shiv Sena to contest the elections and the application of Keval Chaudhary, another party worker who too wanted to contest the elections, was rejected. Keval's cousin Kundan had, in an act of revenge, committed the murders with the help of his other accomplices.

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