Purohit, Kulkarni brought to Pune for investigation

Pune, Nov 19 (UNI) Lt Col Prasad Purohit, a suspect in the September 29 Malegaon bomb blast case, was brought to the city from Nashik by Pune Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in connection with a forged fire arms licence case here.

Another suspect Sameer Kulkarni was brought to Khadki from Nashik by Khadki Police for his alleged role in an attack on Pastor Peter David Silway of Vineyard Workers' Church last year.

The Pune ATS and the Khadki Police obtained Purohit and Kulkarni's custody respectively from Nashik Road Jail after the District and Sessions Court there granted them permission in this regard.

The ATS wanted to question Purohit following a complaint filed by one Shirish Yeshwant Date and his brother Milind (both Erandwane residents) against Purohit. They had filed a complaint at the Sarkarwada police station in Nashik last week.

In their complaint, the brothers have stated that they knew the Army officer well and he had helped them obtain an arms licence for Rs 20,000. The complaint further stated that Purohit allegedly submitted fake documents showing the Dates as residents of Deolali army camp to obtain the arms licence in 2005. When the licence was issued on Major Date's name, Shirish refused to accept it and decided to file a complaint. The case was subsequently referred to the Pune ATS for investigation, police said.

Sources close to the ATS said the officials wanted to investigate how Purohit had obtained the licence? They will seek Purohit's police custody to probe if any other army officer aided him in obtaining the fake documents, they added.

Talking to UNI, Khadki Police Station Incharge Pandurang Shahane said Kulkarni, a resident of Nigdi, will be produced before the Khadki Cantonment Court later in the day for police custody.

Mr Shahane said the witnesses in the assault case have identified Kulkarni as one of the suspects. Kulkarni, a former member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), is now associated with Abhinav Bharat, he added.

UNI SP SSS AKJ VC1440