In the midst of the bustling city of Pune, a chilling event unfolded that has sent ripples through the community and the shadowy underbelly of the city’s criminal world. Sharad Hiraman Mohol, a name that evoked fear and recognition in equal measure, met a violent end in what appears to be a daylight assassination fuelled by internal gang rivalries and financial disputes.
Sharad Mohol’s life was a tapestry of crime and controversy. Notorious for his involvement in the high-profile murder of Qateel Siddiqui, a suspected Indian Mujahideen member, in 2012, Mohol’s criminal dossier was both extensive and alarming. Despite the serious nature of his alleged crimes, including the Siddiqui case, he was acquitted in 2019 after a prolonged judicial process. His notoriety was further cemented when he and his associates were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of gangster Kishor Marne in 2010, a conviction he challenged and managed to secure bail against in 2021.
Pune Carnage: Gangster’s Daylight Execution Stuns City
The assassination of Mohol reads like a scene from a crime thriller, occurring in the broad daylight of a Friday afternoon in the Kothrud area of Pune. The incident took place around 1:30 pm, when three to four assailants reportedly opened fire at Mohol. The 40-year-old, with a history of 15 serious crimes, suffered grievous bullet injuries and was rushed to the nearby Sahyadri hospital. Despite the medical team’s efforts, he was declared dead, marking a brutal end to his life of crime.
The police force, spearheaded by Pune City Police Commissioner Retesh Kumaarr, has launched a full-scale investigation into the murder. The prime suspect, identified as Sahil alias Munna Polekar, is believed to be from the same locality as Mohol—Sutardara. The pursuit of Polekar and his cohorts is underway, with teams dispatched to apprehend the assailants. The motivation behind the murder is suspected to be a financial dispute that escalated, culminating in the fatal shooting, indicative of a deep-seated rivalry within Mohol’s own gang.
As the news of Mohol’s death spread, a significant crowd of his supporters gathered at Sassoon hospital, where his body was taken for post-mortem, signifying his influence and the shockwaves his death has sent through certain factions of the community. The police’s efforts to maintain law and order in the wake of this event are indicative of the delicate balance within Pune’s criminal landscape, which this assassination threatens to unravel.
The incident has cast a spotlight on Pune‘s criminal dynamics, where gang rivalries often simmer beneath the surface. Mohol’s death could potentially trigger a power vacuum and ignite a struggle for supremacy among local gangs, which law enforcement agencies are bracing to contain.
Despite his criminal background, Mohol and his wife Swati, a BJP member, maintained a public persona that included visible participation in social activities in Pune. This duality of character—of a feared gangster and a social participant—is not uncommon in the complex tapestry of India’s socio-political environment, where the lines between crime and politics often blur.
Sharad Mohol’s acquittal in the Siddiqui murder case, his life imprisonment in the Marne murder case, and his subsequent bail, form a narrative arc that reflects the challenges and often, the inefficiencies of the judicial system in dealing with organized crime. His ability to navigate through these legal channels until his violent demise brings forth questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement in curbing the activities of such notorious figures.
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The repercussions of Mohol’s assassination are yet to fully unravel. Law enforcement’s response, the community’s reaction, and the subsequent shift in the criminal hierarchy will be closely scrutinized in the coming weeks and months. For Pune, a city known for its educational institutes and IT sector, this event has added a sombre note to its reputation, highlighting the underlying issues of gang violence and organized crime.
As the investigation progresses, the community awaits answers and justice. The life and death of Sharad Mohol will likely be a case study in the annals of Pune’s criminal history, offering insights into the inner workings of gang dynamics and the law’s endeavours to uphold peace and order amidst the chaos.