India, Dec. 28 -- The gory daylight killing of Mangesh Kalokhe, 45, in Khopoli, in Raigad district, is snowballing into a full-blown political controversy. Even as the name of NCP state president Sunil Tatkare was dragged into the matter, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde visited the bereaved family on Saturday.

Kalokhe, who was attacked and killed on a busy street on Friday morning, was the husband of newly elected Shiv Sena corporator Mansi Kalokhe, who won over her NCP rival in the December 20 municipal council elections.

Seven persons have been arrested for the murder, which police say was premeditated. Also, among those named in the FIR is Sudhakar Ghare, the NCP's Raigad district president. Local Sena MLA Mahendra Thorve has all...