 | Heating Up: Monks keep themselves warm outside the Deonar monastery where Sanghraj was found dead. Pic/sameer markande
| The men who have been accused of murdering a monk in Govandi yesterday, are aghast at the allegations levelled against them. They say that the allegations were being made out of jealousy, after they managed a successful deal with a builder for the Buddha Vihar Samiti.
Riots broke out in Govandi, Kurla, Mankhurd, Chembur and Kandivli yesterday after Sanghraj, a Buddhist monk, was found dead in a monastery.
Although the police say it is a case of suicide, another monk Nanda Bodhi, alleged that he was murdered.
Bodhi accused Arun Kamble, Dr Vivek Kolekar, Manohar Jadhav and Lakdawala Builder in a complaint filed with the Deonar police station.
“We will protest till the police arrest those who have killed our monk. I named those people because Sanghraj had told me once that there was a threat to his life from these people who wanted the monastery,” Bodhi told MiD DAY.
According to Bodhi, Sanghraj was opposing the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme offered by the Lakdawala Builder.
Kamble, one of the persons accused by Bodhi, said he and Dr Kolekar were in Pune for a wedding when the incident took place.
Kamble is also the secretary of the Buddha Vihar Samiti, which is situated next to the monastery.
“We protested against the Panchashil co-op housing society to give us bigger area for our Buddha Vihar Samiti and even asked for a religious hall. After our demands were fulfilled, some people got jealous. They are now defaming us and spreading hatred,” Kamble told MiD DAY.
Dr Kolekar said he was providing treatment to the deceased monk for piles. “How can I kill someone I used to give medication?” Dr Kolekar questioned.
“Our Samiti also provided tiffin service for Sanghraj. A boy was kept to wash his clothes,” Dr Kolekar added.
The residents P L Lokhande Marg are furious over the incident. They are also angry with RPI leader Ramdas Athavle, who is yet to visit the spot.
“He (Athavle) should have come yesterday. If he turns up today we will set him ablaze too,” said Kiran Sonawane, a resident of the area. | 
