Shiv Sena leader Ashok Sawant stabbed to death outside his home in Mumbai

As per reports, the deceased had entered a cable business and had been receiving extortion calls for the last few days.

MUMBAI: Unidentified assailants stabbed Shiv Sena leader Ashok Sawant to death outside his residence in Kandivli in Mumbai on late Sunday.

Sawant, who was also an ex-corporator in Mumbai, was attacked at around 10:45pm while he was returning home after meeting a friend. He was barely 200 metres away from his residence when he was stabbed by the attackers.

As per reports, two men, who had been waiting in a vehicle outside his house in Sur building in Samta Nagar, approached him aggressively and attacked him with choppers before fleeing from the scene.

A police team rushed the 62-year-old Shiv Sena leader to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead by the doctors. 

His body has been sent for a post-mortem at city's Shatabdi hospital.

As per police, Sawant suffered at least 17 wounds and reportedly succumbed outside his residence in Samata Nagar.

The police have filed a case under IPC section 302 and an investigation is underway. The police examined footage from CCTV cameras installed in the locality has reportedly identified one of the accused. 

The preliminary motive behind the crime appeared to be extortion.

As per another report, the deceased had entered a cable business and had been receiving extortion calls for the last few days.

They also said that he had brought the matter to their notice. Media reports said the murder was probably connected to these extortion threats.

Sawant is survived by his wife, son and two daughters.

Parts of Kandivali east observed a spontaneous shutdown in memory of the slain two-time municipal corporator, who was currently a deputy Vibhag Pramukh. 

His funeral has been slated later on Monday evening following the autopsy.