Kolhapur Police Crack Murder Case After Initial Wild Animal Theory
In a shocking development from Maharashtra's Kolhapur district, police have arrested a 34-year-old man for the alleged murder of his 40-year-old female partner. The arrest came after a meticulous investigation that initially pointed toward a wild animal attack.
Discovery of the Body and Initial Conclusions
The case began on February 8 when a headless and limbless torso was discovered in a stream at Ghanticha Jhara, near Gadhinglaj. Relatives promptly identified the body as that of Sunita Sanjay Kesarkar, a resident of Bhashaon village. A postmortem examination conducted on-site initially concluded that the woman had fallen victim to wild animals. Following this assessment, her relatives took the body and performed the last rites.
Parallel Police Investigation Uncovers Foul Play
Despite the initial findings, police officers raised questions about the crime scene and launched a parallel investigation. This probe led to a startling revelation: the woman had actually been murdered by her partner on January 18, and her body was deliberately dumped in the jungle. The identification was made through the clothing found on the remains, though crucial items like gold jewellery and a mobile phone were missing.
Arrest and Confession of the Accused
Inspector Sushant Chavan of the local crime branch detailed the breakthrough. "We received information that the woman had a partner who had also gone missing from Bhadgaon since the body was found," he stated. Police waited until Saturday when the suspect, identified as Pravin Chinchewadi, returned to the village. He was arrested and subsequently confessed to the crime. A formal murder case has been registered at the Gadhinglaj police station.
Motivation Behind the Brutal Crime
According to the confession, the accused was driven to murder due to escalating threats from the victim. Sunita Kesarkar had been threatening to expose their affair to his wife, whom he had married three years ago. She also demanded money from him. On January 18, he lured her to the jungles of Mahagaon, strangled her, and disposed of her body in a stream. The postmortem later attributed the missing body parts to wild animal predation, which helped conceal the murder initially.
Recovery of Stolen Items and Ongoing Investigation
Inspector Chavan further revealed that the accused stole the victim's gold jewellery and mobile phone. "He sold the gold to a jeweller and discarded the mobile phone," Chavan explained. Police are now gathering technical evidence to corroborate the confession and ensure a solid case against the accused.
This case highlights the complexities of criminal investigations in rural areas, where initial appearances can be deceiving. The Kolhapur police's persistence in questioning the initial wild animal theory ultimately led to justice for the victim, uncovering a premeditated murder disguised as a tragic accident.
