The MIDC Waluj police have successfully resolved a blind murder case involving an unidentified decomposed body discovered near Lavki village earlier this month. Two young men have been arrested and a minor has been detained following an investigation that leveraged CCTV footage and social media activity, including an Instagram reel posted after the crime.
Arrests and Detainment
The arrested individuals are 18 and 19 years old, hailing from Ranjangaon Shenpunji in Gangapur taluka. Additionally, a minor in conflict with the law has been taken into custody.
Discovery of the Body
Police Commissioner Pravin Pawar stated that the decomposed body was found on May 18 in a farm at Vitawa shivar, within the MIDC Waluj police jurisdiction. Initially treated as an accidental death under section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the case was upgraded to murder under section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) after signs of foul play were detected.
Investigation Details
Following instructions from in-charge officer Rameshwar Gade Patil, a special team led by sub-inspector Sagar Patil analyzed CCTV footage from multiple routes near the crime scene to identify potential suspects.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-II) Pankaj Atulkar explained that investigators traced a motorcycle seen in the footage. They examined four years of sales records from showrooms dealing in similar motorcycle models and matched the suspects' physiques with information gathered from sources and social media profiles.
Breakthrough via Instagram Reel
The case saw a breakthrough when police spotted an Instagram reel uploaded by the accused featuring the song “Tapka Re Tapka” after the murder. With assistance from the cyber police, links to other suspects were established through this reel.
Teams traced the suspects to Nanded and conducted surveillance there for three days, gathering intelligence by posing as vegetable vendors in crime-prone areas. During the probe, police learned that one suspect with a criminal background had been missing since May 14.
Sub-inspector Patil noted that further analysis of social media photographs helped match the suspects' body structures with those seen in the CCTV footage. The accused had allegedly fled to another state after the crime but were apprehended upon returning to the area following sustained surveillance.
Confession and Ongoing Investigation
During questioning, the accused allegedly confessed to the murder, according to police. The identity of the deceased has now been established. Further investigation is underway, said Inspector Gade of MIDC Waluj police.
