Rekha Jare Murder: Absconding Journalist Advocate Bal Bothe files for anticipatory bail; court hearing on December 11

Pune: Absconding journalist and advocate Bal J Bothe, the mastermind and prime suspect in Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) activist Rekha Jare murder case, has filed for an anticipatory bail application in the court. The court has scheduled the bail application hearing on December 11 and asked the prosecution to file their say on this application. Meanwhile, Special Public Prosecutor Suresh Lagad has demanded an inquiry into the disproportionate assets of Bothe.

Along with working for the NCP, Rekha Bhausaheb Jare (39) was also the President of Yashaswini Mahila Brigade. She was murdered by two motorcycle-borne persons in Ahmednagar district on November 30 at around 8.20 pm on the Pune-Nagar Highway. Jare was travelling from Pune to Ahmednagar in a car along with her mother, son and a friend when the incident happened. Investigations conducted by Nagar police revealed that senior journalist Bothe was the mastermind and paid blood money to other suspects to execute her.

The suspects had chased the vehicle in which Rekha Jare was travelling and they stopped her vehicle by parking their two-wheeler in the middle of the road on November 30 night. She was called on the road after which her throat was slit with a knife. Police have arrested Feroze Raju Shaikh (26) of Rahuri, Dnyaneshwar Shivaji Shinde (24) of Shrirampur, Aditya Cholke (25) of Kolhar, Sagar Bhingardive (31) of Kedgaon and Rishikesh Pawar (23) from Pravaranagar in this case so far. Bhingardive revealed during interrogation that Bothe had paid blood money to him to execute Jare.

When Bothe’s name was made public, he fled from his house. His location was traced to a lodge in Nashik but by the time the police team reached there he had left that location. Bothe filed an anticipatory bail application through advocate Mahesh Tawade on Monday (December 7). The court has asked the public prosecutor and the investigating officer to file their say on the bail application.

Nagar police have formed five squads to nab Bothe. Considering the possibility of him hiding in hotels and lodges, the police conducted searches in Shirdi, Nashik and other cities in the last three days. Police are also interrogating Bothe’s friends and close ones to figure out who is helping him.

Meanwhile, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Suresh Lagad has sought an independent investigation into the disproportionate property assets of Bothe.

Bothe has also received a doctorate degree from the Pune University on the basis of which he had been appointed on to the Board of Studies of the university. SPP Lagad has demanded that his appointment to the University Board should also be canceled.