Nagpur Couple Executes Premeditated Murder, Surrenders Immediately After
In a shocking and meticulously planned crime that unfolded in Nagpur, a married couple stands accused of luring a 35-year-old man to his death before proceeding directly to a police station to surrender. The incident occurred on the desolate road connecting the Koradi thermal power plant to Khaparkheda on Thursday, revealing a convoluted history of relationships, alleged harassment, and fatal revenge.
A Deadly Ambush on an Isolated Road
Police have identified the accused as 37-year-old Rajesh Gajbhiye and his 34-year-old wife. The victim, Sagar Wankhade, a driver by profession, was the woman's cousin. According to police reports, the woman conspired with her husband to ambush Wankhade. She allegedly lured him to their home under false pretenses before accompanying him on his motorcycle to the isolated power plant area.
In a chilling sequence of events, the woman is said to have initiated the attack, stabbing Wankhade first. Her husband, Rajesh, who was lying in wait nearby, then joined in, delivering multiple fatal blows until Wankhade collapsed and bled to death on the roadside.
A Tangled Web of Past Relationships and Harassment
The motive for the brutal killing appears rooted in a complex and troubled past. Investigations reveal that Wankhade and the accused woman were involved in an "objectionable friendship" prior to her marriage to Rajesh in 2011. After discontinuing the affair, they reconnected via Facebook in 2022.
The situation escalated when the cousins moved to Pune together for several months. The woman eventually left the arrangement, citing physical assaults by Wankhade while he was under the influence of alcohol. However, Wankhade reportedly did not relent. Police state he frequently appeared at the couple's residence, creating disturbances and issuing threats to forcibly take the woman away to resume their relationship.
The Final Trigger and Meticulous Planning
The alleged murder plot was set in motion on Wednesday when Wankhade messaged the woman, urging her to go with him to Pune. This communication reportedly served as the final trigger. The couple's plan was elaborate:
- The woman sent her husband away as part of the ruse to meet Wankhade alone.
- She concealed a knife before leaving with Wankhade on his bike.
- Rajesh, after dropping their children at school, positioned himself in ambush along the predetermined route, awaiting his wife's signal.
Upon reaching the isolated spot, the woman allegedly dropped her bag, prompting Wankhade to stop the bike, which was the cue for the attack to begin.
Surrender and Swift Police Action
In a bizarre twist, the couple reportedly planned to either commit suicide or surrender to authorities immediately after the murder. Eyewitnesses at the scene noted the registration number of Wankhade's bike and promptly informed the police.
Law enforcement acted swiftly, tracing the vehicle to Rajesh Gajbhiye. While officers were searching for the couple, they intercepted the duo on their way to the Koradi police station. The pair was arrested on the spot, and a formal case of murder has been registered against them.
Authorities are now conducting a thorough investigation to establish the complete sequence of events. Key focuses include determining the full extent of the harassment faced by the couple, confirming the premeditated nature of the crime, and verifying the accused's stated intent to end their own lives or surrender following the killing. This case adds a grim chapter to the district's records, highlighting extreme outcomes of prolonged personal conflict.
