Nagpur Teen Murder Case: Video Game Partner Masterminds Botched ₹50 Lakh Ransom Plot
In a shocking development from Nagpur, Maharashtra, police have arrested three individuals including the victim's 19-year-old video gaming partner for the kidnapping and murder of a 14-year-old school student. The body of Class 8 student Atharva Nanore was discovered stuffed in sugarcane sacks approximately 20 kilometers from his home, forty-eight hours after he went missing during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations.
The Mastermind and Motive
Jai Yadav, who regularly played video games with Atharva and frequently visited the Nanore family residence in Gawalipura, Gittikhadan, emerged as the primary architect of the crime. According to police statements released on Monday, Yadav meticulously planned the kidnapping for several weeks after hearing Atharva's father, Dilip Nanore, boast about his substantial wealth.
Dilip Nanore, who operates as a wholesale vegetable seller, moneylender, and property dealer, reportedly discussed properties worth crores of rupees, including ongoing construction projects. Yadav, who also purchased vegetables on credit from the family, identified what he perceived as an opportunity to extort ₹50 lakh from the apparently affluent family.
The Failed Kidnapping Attempt and Successful Abduction
Yadav initially attempted to kidnap Atharva during the crowded Ram Navami procession but failed to execute his plan. The perpetrators succeeded on Hanuman Jayanti, which fell on April 2.
CCTV footage captured at 9:53 PM revealed the critical moment when Atharva was seen walking with Yadav in a side lane near the procession route. Yadav had convinced the teenager to accompany him under the pretext of needing to urinate. The video evidence shows Yadav casually persuading the boy to enter a waiting vehicle.
Inside the car waited two accomplices: Kunal Shahu, a 22-year-old electrician, and Ayush Shahu, a 19-year-old junkyard worker and scrap dealer who owned and operated the vehicle. The trio immediately drove Atharva toward Bokhara near Koradi.
The Tragic Turn of Events
During the journey, Yadav purchased rodenticide spray with the intention of rendering Atharva unconscious, but this attempt proved unsuccessful. The teenager became increasingly agitated and began resisting his captors fiercely.
Between 11:30 PM and 11:45 PM, the kidnappers panicked and strangled Atharva inside the moving vehicle using a black cloth. They subsequently tore the same cloth to bind the victim's legs and hands. Despite purchasing a new SIM card and mobile handset specifically for ransom demands, the perpetrators never made the extortion calls to the family.
Body Disposal and Deceptive Behavior
The accused drove the vehicle to Gorewada near Ayush's residence, where they left the body in the rear seat overnight before returning to their respective areas. Yadav secretly returned to his home, alarmed by the intensive search operations already underway.
On April 3, Yadav and Kunal purchased two grain and vegetable sacks, borrowed a scooty, and returned to the car. They carefully tied and packed Atharva's body into the sacks inside the vehicle before driving to the city outskirts with plans to dispose of the remains.
The duo attempted to dump the body at multiple locations but could not identify a sufficiently secure spot. Eventually, they concealed the body between two pillars on the Bharatwada railway overbridge. A local villager discovered the decomposed remains on April 4. Following the disposal, Yadav and Kunal thoroughly washed the vehicle near Bharatwada to eliminate evidence.
In a particularly brazen display, the accused continued living normally in the Gittikhadan area, monitoring police movements and even participating in local protests demanding Atharva's safe return.
Police Investigation and Breakthrough
Gittikhadan police initially detained Yadav but released him after failing to extract a confession during preliminary questioning. The investigation gained momentum when the crime branch formed twelve specialized teams under the leadership of Additional Commissioner of Police Vasant Pardeshi, Deputy Commissioner of Police Rahul Maknikar, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Abhijit Patil.
These teams conducted comprehensive analysis of CCTV footage, examined call detail records, tracked locations, and interviewed associates, family members, fellow students, and neighbors. Investigators also conducted extensive searches along the Bharatwada Ring Road for potential clues.
Assistant Police Inspector Nitin Chulpar of the crime branch apprehended Yadav for a second time. During intense overnight interrogation conducted by DCP Maknikar and his team, Yadav finally broke down and named his accomplices Kunal and Ayush.
Arrests and Charges
All three suspects were arrested and questioned separately, eventually providing detailed confessions about their involvement in the crime. Police seized three mobile phones along with the vehicle used in the kidnapping and murder.
After the body was formally identified and medical examination confirmed signs of strangulation, authorities filed a First Information Report charging the trio with murder and kidnapping for ransom. Notably, none of the accused individuals had previous criminal records.
The case has sent shockwaves through the Nagpur community, highlighting how casual conversations about wealth and regular social interactions can tragically escalate into violent criminal enterprises. The investigation continues as authorities examine all aspects of this meticulously planned but ultimately botched ransom scheme.
