NAVI MUMBAI: Newly elected Shiv Sena councillor from Khopoli Manasi Kalokhe’s husband Mangesh (45) was hacked to death with swords, sickle, and an axe when he was returning home on bike after dropping his son to school on Friday morning. Mangesh was a former councillor from Khopoli.Khopoli police have registered an FIR against 10 people, including NCP’s Raigad district president Sudhakar Ghare, NCP’s local spokesperson Bharat Bhagat, Ravindra Deokar and his sons Darshan and Dhanesh, and Sachin Chavan based on a complaint lodged by Mangesh Kalokhe’s cousin alleging murder conspiracy.Shiv Sena MLA Bharat Gogavale alleged that the murder may have been committed out of political vendetta as NCP lost the recent Khopoli Municipal Council elections. Ravindra’s wife Urmila had contested on an NCP ticket from ward number 3 against Sena’s Manasi Kalokhe, and lost by more than 700 votes.According to sources, Ghare is a close aide of NCP MP Sunil Tatkare. Ghare had contested the assembly elections in 2024 as an Independent against Shiv Sena’s Mahendra Thorve from Karjat and lost by a margin of 5,694 votes. Mangesh was a staunch supporter of Thorve.Police said around 7am, Mangesh was returning home on his bike after dropping his son to school when he was ambushed by two unidentified assailants, who were waiting in a black car with four others, at a junction in Vihari village. The duo struck him with swords, sickle, and axe and sped away in the car. Kalokhe died on the spot.As news spread of the murder, which was witnessed by local residents, Shiv Sena supporters gathered outside Khopoli police station and demanded immediate arrest of the killers. A large police force was deployed in the area to maintain the law and order situation.Raigad superintendent of police Anchal Dalal said, “The complainant alleged that Ravindra, his sons Darshan and Dhanesh, and Chavan had hatched the murder plot. He claimed that on Friday morning, Darshan, Chavan, and three unidentified persons chased Mangesh, waylaid his bike, and knocked him down. They then attacked him with swords, a sickle, and an axe, killing him.” Dalal said they have yet to identify four of the accused.
