Cops mum on Dayanand Patil; hasn’t returned home, say kin

Even as three IM suspects were arrested in connection with the J M Road blasts on Thursday, investigators kept mum on Dayanand Patil (33) of Uruli Kanchan, the only person who was injured in the serial blasts on August 1. Patil had reportedly told investigators that he lifted the bag carrying explosives from the IAC pandal.

Patil was admitted to Sassoon hospital for treatment. After being discharged, Patil did not return to his home in Mhetre Chawl. Investigators had found his passport, which showed that he had been to Jordan in 2004. Investigators had also searched his house in Bidar in Karnataka. DIG (ATS) Sanjiv Latkar refused to comment.

Patil’s neighbours in Mhetre Chawl said since the day his wife Satyakala left the house, neither the Patils nor any of their relatives visited the one-room flat. “Satyakala was not keeping well after the police took Patil away. A few weeks later, her brother took her and her daughter to their maternal home in Bidar. Since then, the house is locked with the Patils’ belongings inside. The landlord can’t rent the house to others,” said Satosh Londhe who stays opposite Mhetre Chawl.

Wadekar, who lives in Dehu Road area, said he was unaware of Dayanand’s whereabouts. “I spoke to his family a week ago. He hadn’t returned till then,” said Wadekar.

Speaking over phone from their village in Bidar, a relative of Satyakala said she was with them but Patil had not returned.