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CBI probe if family makes request, says Maharashtra

Staff Reporter

Mumbai: Maharashtra would ask the Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate the killing of Additional Collector Yashwant Sonawane if his family made a formal request to that effect, Home Minister R.R. Patil said here on Friday.

He said while government officers were protected under section 353 of the Indian Penal Code, adequate security would be provided for raids and other such duties as and when required.

Mr. Patil said main accused Popat Shinde, who set Sonawane on fire, continued to be critical and was not in a position to give his statement.

As part of the ongoing crackdown on the oil mafia in the State, raids were conducted on three godowns in Mumbai and over two lakh litres of black oil or used diesel was seized.

Himanshu Roy, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) said the raids were conducted along the Kurla-Vakola road and Gafoor, the alleged kingpin in the black oil racket, was arrested.

“This oil was coming from industries and ships and sold as diesel. Some of it was sold at petrol pumps and some to truck drivers and industries,” Mr. Roy said. The involvement of customs officials was being probed.

Mr. Patil directed the police to seal the petrol stations, where this oil was being sold and to unearth all the links in the racket. The police also arrested four persons, allegedly belonging to the sand mafia, in Tasgaon, Sangli district, for attacking an official.

Kamat visits

the bereaved

PTI reports from Nashik:

Union Minister of State for Home Gurudas Kamat on Friday visited the house of slain Additional Collector Yashwant Sonawane here to express condolences to his family and said the Centre would consider ordering a CBI investigation into the officer's murder.

“If the Maharashtra government requests for a CBI probe, the Central government will think about it,” he told journalists after the visit.

Sonawane's wife Vijaya on Thursday demanded a CBI probe into her husband's murder.

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