Daijiworld Media Network - Palghar
Palghar, Jun 9: In a major breakthrough nearly six months after the brutal murder of Shiv Sena functionary Ashok Dhodi, Palghar police have arrested his brother and prime accused, Avinash Raman Dhodi, from Silvassa in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
The 60-year-old accused had been on the run since January. Acting on a tip-off, a police team tracked him down to the Morkhal area and arrested him around 3:25 am on Sunday. He is now in the custody of Gholvad police, where the initial kidnapping complaint had been registered.
Ashok Dhodi, 52, a well-known Sena leader from Dahanu and head of the local Mathadi Sena unit, had gone missing on January 19 while returning from Mumbai. He last contacted his family from Gholvad, saying he would be home for dinner, but never arrived. The next day, broken spectacles, car window fragments, and slippers were discovered near Dongripada in Dahanu, triggering fears of foul play.
Twelve days later, Dhodi’s decomposed body was recovered from his car submerged in a water-filled quarry in Gujarat’s Valsad district.
According to Palghar SP Yatish Deshmukh, a property dispute is believed to be the motive behind the murder. Ashok had reportedly sought the cancellation of the lease on a house occupied by Avinash, leading to his eviction. In retaliation, police say Avinash and his accomplices intercepted Ashok’s vehicle, abducted and murdered him, and dumped the body in the quarry.
Avinash, who has a prior criminal record with cases in 2016 and 2018, was one of nine accused. Six have been arrested, while three others—Manoj Bhavarsingh Rajput, Ashish Ramubhai Dhodi, and Sunil Dhodi—are still absconding. The court in Dahanu issued warrants against them on May 29.
The probe also led to a departmental inquiry, resulting in the suspension of one police officer and notices to eight others for alleged lapses. The case is being pursued under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges of kidnapping, murder, and criminal intimidation. Search operations had extended to Gujarat, Rajasthan, Indore, and Daman before the arrest in Silvassa.