Daijiworld Media Network - Navi Mumbai (SR)

Navi Mumbai, Jul 5: A timer- bomb (IED) like device which was found near Sudhagad School in Kalamboli a fortnight ago, had sent the Navi Mumbai police into a tizzy. After investigating the case thoroughly for over two weeks, the Navi Mumbai crime branch officials finally solved the case.

As reported in TOI, police commissioner Sanjay Kumar told the publication, "The key accused Deepak Dandekar (55) from Kombadbhuje village near Ulwe had used his aide Sushil Sathe (35) from Pune for planting the timer-bomb like device. While, the third accused Manish Bhagat (45) had helped in procuring materials needed for making IED device like 12 volt battery, wires, analogue clock and iron rods and also the handcart which Bhagat kept near the school for planting the device by Sathe. Dandekar and Sathe have confessed that they had planted the IED device containing ammonium nitrate and gelatin meant for explosion to threaten a Kalamboli builder for extortion of Rs 2 crore, as Dandekar was under heavy debt while Sathe wanted Rs 12 lac for regular injections for his critical ailment. They planted the explosive device near the builder's house which is in the vicinity of New Sudhagad school."

The commissioner said, "The key accused Dandekar was fined Rs 25 lac by court in cheque bouncing case in April and was ordered to deposit Rs 5 lac. Hence he sold his wife's gold ornaments but could only get Rs 3 lac. After planning for three months, Dandekar with his two aides planted the IED device near the builder's house with a plan that after the blast they would tell the builder that they had planted the bomb and will explode another bomb at his house. Thus, they were planning to extort Rs 2 crore from the builder."

Sanjay Kumar said that as of now they have found no links to connect the accused with any terror groups and the purpose seems to be extortion from the builder. "The key accused was able to prepare the IED device used for blasting at quarries since his father once owned a quarry licence and he knew the tactics of making the explosive device. The aides helped Dandekar as he had promised to give them their share after extortion from the builder."