Mumbai:
An Additional District Collector was set on fire on Wednesday, allegedly by the petrol and diesel mafia, at Manmad in Nashik district, about six hours from Mumbai. Manmad has a massive oil depot, making it the stomping ground of the oil mafia.
Yashwant Sonawane, who was in his late forties, had just covered a farmers' protest, and was heading back with his personal assistant and driver, when he noticed an oil tanker that he suspected was being used for pilferage. He allegedly got out of his car near a tea stall or dhaba with his driver and his personal assistant.
"Preliminary reports say Sonawane had gone there to conduct a raid on petrol and diesel mafia. There some people, believed to be associated with the mafia, who set him on fire causing his death," Additional Director General (Law & Order) K P Rahuvanshi told PTI.
As Mr Sonawane began asking questions, four people attacked first his assistant, then his driver who ran away. The gang then poured kerosene on Mr Sonawane and set him on fire. He died immediately.
All four have been arrested, including Popat Shinde, the ringleader who is himself is badly burnt, and in hospital.
"Four people have been arrested for Mr Sonawane's death...one of the accused, Popat Shinde, also sustained injuries and has been admitted to a hospital with 60-65 per cent burn injuries," said Raghuvanshi.
"We will take prompt action to bring the guilty to justice," said Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.
Sonawane was not an IAS officer cadre. He had recently been promoted rank of additional collector, after serving as deputy collector for 15 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
The tragedy brings back memories of IIM-educated Majunath, an Indian Oil employee, who was killed after he busted a petrol adulteration racket in Uttar Pradesh, and that of Satyendra Dubey, the 31-year-old IIT engineer, who exposed corruption in the Jharkhand stretch of the Golden Quadrilateral project and was killed.