3 CCTV cameras in Thane leader Purnekar’s office were off when he was killed

Three CCTV cameras installed in Shiv Sena UBT Vibhag Pramukh Pradeep Purnekar's Thane office, capable of capturing assailants during his murder, were unexpectedly turned off when the attack occurred on September 29. Initially, it was speculated that the switchboard powering the cameras was being used to illuminate a Ganesh pandal near his office, but police are now investigating the possibility of more sinister motives.

Police are probing whether the cameras were deliberately disconnected, or if the accused, aware of the cameras' inactivity, chose to target Purnekar during that period. One of the five arrested individuals, Pappya Shinde, reportedly conducted a reconnaissance of Purnekar's office days before the murder, possibly noticing the cameras.

Meanwhile, Ravindra Shinde, husband of former Thane Mayor Meenakshi Shinde, has been questioned by the Thane police at the Anti Extortion Cell office for the second consecutive day. He arrived at the office at 1 am and was not released until 8 pm. The questioning is based on his potential connections with some of the arrested accused.

The police have not yet determined the motive behind the murder, but they are examining various possibilities, including political rivalry, a redevelopment project in Thane, involvement of a girl spotted in a CCTV near the office around the time of the murder, and complaints Purnekar had lodged against drug suppliers in the area.

Purnekar was fatally shot and stabbed at his office around 9:30 pm on the same day. A murder case was registered at the local police station, and the probe is being handled by the crime branch Special Investigation Team led by DCP Amar Sinh Jadhav. So far, the SIT has arrested five individuals, including Pappya Shinde, Nikhil Yadav, Nitesh Pawar, key accused Santosh Kanojia alias Talli, and his aide Amit Singh alias Paplu. Yadav and Pawar were produced in court on Wednesday and remanded to judicial custody.