Ulhasnagar gangster may have been murdered, says forensic report

Naresh Chaddi

Four years after gangster Naresh Chaddi, 52, was found dead under mysterious circumstances, an FSL report has revealed that he died of 'asphyxia'. The deceased's family has been claiming since 2016 that Ulhasnagar corporator, Godhumal Kishnani had got Chaddi killed but no case was registered then due to lack of evidence. Now, the Thane police will finally register an FIR and start a probe.

Naresh Aasandas Pahalajani alias Naresh Chaddi, who had surrendered in 2012, was a key witness in the murder case of Inder Bhatija and Ghanshyam Bhatija in the 1990s. A former associate of gangster-turned-politician Suresh Budharmal Kalani aka Pappu Kalani, Chaddi was wanted in 10 criminal cases in Ulhasnagar division, including a bomb blast.

Speaking to mid-day, senior police inspector of Khadakpada police station, Ashok Pawar, said, "Chaddi's body was found under mysterious circumstances. An accidental death report (ADR) was registered. After conducting his post-mortem, the viscera and other samples were preserved and sent for a forensic analysis. We recently received an FSL report related to the matter, which reveals that he [the gangster] died of asphyxia."

"As the cause of death has been revealed, we need to investigate why and how he died of asphyxia. We will register an FIR. His relatives, including wife and children, live in Bengaluru. The investigating officer is trying to contact them so that they file a complaint in the matter. After recording their statements, we will register a case," he added.

Chaddi's death

Chaddi's body was found on a sofa at his rented accommodation at Sai Paradise building in Kalyan's Khadakpada area in February 2016. His relatives, including wife Deepa, son Pravin and brother Raju, have been alleging since Day 1 that there were contusion marks and abrasions all over his body. However, the cops did not find any evidence related to the cause of his death.

Godhumal Kishnani

Chaddi's brother Raju said, "We are planning to meet the Khadakpada police officers this week to file a complaint and get the FIR registered in the matter." After the gangster's death, corporator Kishnani in an alleged threat call to a builder had claimed to have got Chaddi killed "like a dog". Builder Dinesh Jawalirani had got an FIR registered against Kishnani and his associate under Sections 385 (putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion), 294 (obscene acts or words), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506(2) (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

The vital tape

On February 19, 2020, Raju wrote an email to the chief secretary and additional chief secretary in which he has attached a voice recording allegedly between Kishnani and an officer of Khadakpada police station, Sonawane, who was looking into the case in 2016. During the conversation in the tape, Kishnani is heard telling Sonawane, "Naresh Chaddi ko maar dia, kharcha aaya mera… lekin dekha na (I killed Naresh Chaddi. It cost me, but I got it done)."

"We had also told inspector Sonawane about the threat my brother was facing from Kishnani and his son Praveen Godhu Kishnani, who are Ulhasnagar residents. Kishnani is a corporator for the municipality against which my brother had complained to the higher officials as they do illegal activities with support from the cops," reads the email by Raju.

The email further states, "Inspector Sonawane, who was in-charge of the case, and other officials are involved in my brother's murder. I have a recording of the conversation between Kishnani and Sonawane in which they accept their involvement in my brother's murder (sic)."

Raju added, "Kishnani and his associates are prime suspects in Chaddi's murder. We have been telling the cops since Day 1 but our requests to book them went unheard. Now, since the forensic report has revealed that it was not a natural death, the Khadakpada police must register an FIR against the suspects."

Despite repeated attempts to contact corporator Kishnani and his son, they remained unavailable for comment.

Naresh Chaddi's past

A key witness in the Bhatija brothers' murder case, Chaddi's name shot to the limelight in April 2010 after a text message was sent to BJP leader Eknath Khadse and then Thane police commissioner, Anil Dhere, stating that the gangster was planning to plant bombs across the city. Khadse had raised the matter in the Assembly.

2012
Year Naresh Chaddi surrendered to the police

Feb 2016
When gangster Naresh Chaddi was found dead in his rented apartment

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