Nagpur Engineering Students' Apparent Kindness Masks Brutal Murder for Car
In a shocking case from Nagpur, what initially appeared to be an act of goodwill by three engineering students rapidly descended into a premeditated, cold-blooded murder, driven solely by greed to possess a red Maruti Alto car. The trio attempted to mislead investigators when apprehended from their college campus on Friday, but forensic evidence, including blood stains on a shoe, exposed their deception, leading to a full confession.
Gruesome Discovery and Swift Police Action
The body of 44-year-old spare parts supplier Suchit Bhojapure was discovered on Friday in a horrifying state. His naked corpse, with a brutally smashed skull, was found dumped in bushes near a crematorium on Khadgaon Road within the Wadi police jurisdiction. The investigation commenced swiftly after Bhojapure's father, Upasrao, filed a missing person report. Remarkably, the police cracked the case within just 12 hours of locating the body.
The Accused: Affluent Students with Dark Intentions
The arrested individuals are all second-year BTech students: Aryan Shende, 22, a computer science student residing in Venkatesh Colony; Rishabh Kamble, 20, a mechanical engineering student from Beltarodi; and Anuj Ramesh, 19, also a mechanical engineering student living in Kalamna. A particularly disturbing aspect for investigators was the motive. Despite coming from financially stable families capable of affording such luxuries, the trio murdered Bhojapure to steal his red Alto car and two high-end mobile phones. Kamble's family owns a bungalow, Shende's father is a teacher, and his mother works for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation.
From Assistance to Atrocity: The Fateful Night
The incident unfolded late on Thursday. The three students, en route to Anuj's house in Kalamna, noticed a red car dangerously parked on a flyover at Wardhaman Nagar. Finding the driver, Bhojapure, heavily intoxicated and slumped over the steering wheel, they offered to help park the vehicle safely. Unable to drive, Bhojapure requested a short drop. After Kamble took the wheel, Bhojapure asked them to drive him to Bhiwapur for a delivery. Following this, he pleaded to be taken home near Baba Trimurti Nagar in Wadi.
The students contacted his wife, who initially agreed for them to bring him home. However, upon reaching the locked house and calling her again, she reacted with anger, questioning why they had brought her "drunkard" husband back. This cold response seemingly convinced the students that the man was unloved, planting a seed of opportunity in their minds.
The Brutal Murder and Cover-Up
Seized by greed, the trio made a horrific decision. They resolved to murder Bhojapure, steal his car, alter its number plate and color, and keep it for themselves. Driving to a deserted spot near the crematorium, they dragged him from the vehicle, used stones to smash his skull, stripped him of his clothes to obscure his identity, and dumped his naked body in the bushes before fleeing with the car and phones.
Investigation and Arrests
The crime branch, under the leadership of senior police inspector Dnyaneshwar Bhedodkar and supervised by additional CP Vasant Pardeshi, DCP Rahul Maknikar, and ACP Abhijit Patil, launched an intensive investigation. Technical surveillance, analysis of CCTV footage, and call records were pivotal. Aryan Shende became a key suspect after records showed he had called Bhojapure's wife. He was detained from the college campus in Nandanvan, confessed during interrogation, and led police to the murder site. Bhojapure's car was later recovered parked near Anuj Ramesh's residence.
The three students have been formally charged with murder in an FIR, produced in court, and remanded to police custody. The case stands as a stark reminder of how avarice can corrupt even those from privileged backgrounds.
