Police have arrested a 32-year-old brick supplier in connection with the murder of a woman whose charred body was discovered in Navi Mumbai nearly two months ago. Investigators allege that the accused killed the woman after she repeatedly pressured him to marry her and then attempted to destroy evidence by setting the body on fire, reported PTI.
The arrest comes after an extensive investigation involving technical surveillance, analysis of call records and cross-verification of missing persons reports, officials said on Tuesday, reported PTI.
Charred body found in Navi Mumbai in April
The case began on April 11 when a severely decomposed and burnt body of an unidentified woman was found near the Chinchvali-Wakdi village boundary in Panvel taluka of Navi Mumbai, reported PTI.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Rashmi Nandedkar, investigators initially faced significant challenges as there were no identity documents or immediate clues at the scene that could help establish the victim`s identity, reported PTI.
Police circulated details of jewellery recovered from the body through the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) network and examined CCTV footage from multiple locations. Technical intelligence and other investigative leads were also pursued in an effort to identify the victim and trace those responsible.
Missing person report helps crack the case
A breakthrough came when a police constable compared details from the investigation with a missing person complaint registered at the Shil Daighar police station in Thane district.
The jewellery found on the body, including rings, a nose pin and earrings, matched the description provided in the missing person report. Investigators also found similarities in the physical appearance of the deceased and the missing woman, reported PTI.
The victim was subsequently identified as 30-year-old Anitadevi Bhagwan Rajbhar.
Further investigation revealed that Rajbhar had been in frequent contact with Karan Namdev Patil, a resident of Phadkepada in Shilphata who worked as a brick supplier, reported PTI.
Call records lead investigators to suspect
Police said call data records showed regular communication between Rajbhar and Patil before her disappearance.
According to officials, Patil failed to respond to initial police summons, raising suspicion among investigators. After being detained for questioning, he allegedly confessed to the crime, reported PTI.
Police claim the accused and the victim were known to each other and that Rajbhar had been urging Patil to marry her.
Accused allegedly killed victim and burnt body
Investigators allege that Patil decided to eliminate Rajbhar to avoid the pressure to marry her.
On April 6, he allegedly persuaded her to accompany him in his car before driving to a secluded location. Police said he then attacked her with an iron rod, causing fatal injuries.
After the murder, Patil allegedly transported the body to the Chinchvali area in Panvel and attempted to erase evidence by pouring petrol and setting the body on fire, reported PTI.
Officials said the accused used fuel taken from his own vehicle to burn the remains.
Accused remanded to police custody
Patil was arrested on June 8 and produced before a court, which remanded him to police custody until June 12.
He has been booked under provisions related to murder and destruction of evidence.
Police said further investigation is underway to establish the complete sequence of events and gather additional evidence in support of the charges filed against the accused.
(With inputs from PTI)
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