Pune police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against former MLA Ravindra Dhangekar, his wife, and twelve other individuals in connection with the alleged suicide of a 65-year-old contractor. The contractor, identified as Khalil Rajjulal Shaikh, was found deceased at his residence in the Gultekdi area of Pune. The FIR was filed following a complaint by Shaikh’s wife, who alleged that prolonged mental harassment and financial pressures stemming from business disputes led her husband to take his own life. Shaikh reportedly left behind video statements and a suicide note naming the accused.
Dhangekar Rejects Allegations, Cites Project Delays
Ravindra Dhangekar, a former MLA from Kasba Peth, has vehemently denied the allegations of abetting suicide. Speaking to the media, Dhangekar described the incident as unfortunate and attributed the contractor’s death to significant financial losses incurred due to the stalling of a construction project. According to Dhangekar, the project, named ‘Utkarsh,’ was initiated by five partners and had secured necessary approvals from the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), along with a loan exceeding ₹5 crore from GS Mahanagar Co-operative Bank. He claimed that the project faced political controversy and was stalled after initial construction phases due to allegations of being developed on Waqf Board land. Although a court ruling was reportedly in their favour, the extensive delays caused substantial financial setbacks, prompting Dhangekar’s wife to exit the project in 2025.
Dhangekar further alleged that he and his wife were being politically targeted and falsely implicated in the case. He suggested that the video statements recorded by the deceased may have been made under duress and urged for an impartial police investigation. The former MLA highlighted that he too had faced mental harassment and suggested that the stalled project’s financial repercussions were a primary cause for Shaikh’s extreme action.
Police Investigation and Details of the FIR
The FIR, registered at Swargate Police Station, names Dhangekar, his wife Pratibha, former corporator Balasaheb Shedge and his wife, along with eight other individuals. The charges include abetment of suicide, criminal breach of trust, criminal intimidation, and intentional insult. Police have seized the alleged suicide note, video recordings, and other electronic evidence for forensic examination. According to reports, Shaikh had been involved in the centering and construction labor business in Pune since 2011. The complaint filed by his wife states that the alleged harassment began in 2015 and continued until July 15, 2026, involving threats, abuse, and intimidation over unresolved financial transactions.
The complainant also alleged that Balasaheb Shedge had forcibly seized and withheld Shaikh’s business scaffolding materials, exacerbating his financial difficulties. Police are investigating the matter thoroughly, examining the evidence provided by the deceased’s family and the accused. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections invoked in the FIR pertain to abetment of suicide, uttering obscene words, criminal intimidation, intentional insult, and joint liability for acts done in furtherance of common intention.
The incident has brought to light the complex financial dealings and potential disputes within the construction and real estate sectors in Pune. The police investigation aims to ascertain the veracity of the allegations made by the deceased’s family and the counter-claims presented by the accused, including Ravindra Dhangekar.
The Chenab Times News Desk