Don Ashwin Naik acquitted of Pune estate agent murder

The sessions court cleared gangster Ashwin Naik yesterday of charges of conspiring the murder of city-based estate agent Deepak Deo on the grounds that the prosecution based its case merely on circumstantial evidence. The evidence did not support the claim that Naik was linked to the crime.

Deo was kidnapped from his Wakadewadi house in 1998. His body was subsequently found at a secluded spot in the hilly area of Wai taluka in Satara district.

Rival links
Subsequent investigations revealed that the Naik gang eliminated Deo over doubts that he had link with Naik's rivals. Ashwin's counsel advocate Viraj Kakade argued in court that there was no evidence available to prove that the vehicles seized by police were used for the murder. The prosecution had relied on the evidence that the seven involved in the crime had stayed at Kalasagar Hotel in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

u00a0There was no evidence that the Sumo and Fiat seized by the police were used for the crime. Special Judge H S Mahajan acquitted Naik, saying that available circumstantial evidence failed to prove his link to the crime.

Wife's murder
Naik, who was acquitted from the murder of his wife Nita by the Sessions Court early this year, reached his residence at Subhash Nagar on N M Joshi Marg in Mumbai after he was released yesterday. "I just want to look after my children," said Naik, who was overwhelmed after meeting his family. Naik's daughter Brushali is studying dentistry. His son is studying in school. Both the kids were virtually orphaned after Naik was charged with the murder of his wife Nita on November 13, 2000. She was romantically linked to police bodyguard Laxman Ziman.

Gangland foray
Naik was disabled after he was shot at close range by gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli's shooter Ravindra Sawant outside the Sessions Court on April 18, 1994. A bullet had pierced his skull and he has been confined to the wheelchair since then. Naik had assumed the mantle of the gang after his elder brother Amar was killed in an encounter on August 10, 1996.