In a remarkable display of investigative work, the Malwani police in Mumbai cracked a brutal rape-murder case from September this year, with a seemingly insignificant clue—a pink dupatta fluttering from an autorickshaw—proving to be the breakthrough that led them to the perpetrator.
The Discovery and Initial Investigation
On September 23, authorities in Malwani, located in Mumbai's northern suburbs, made a grim discovery. The semi-nude body of a woman was found at an isolated location along Marve Road. A subsequent post-mortem examination confirmed that the victim had been strangled to death.
According to Inspector Jeevan Bhatkule, who was part of the investigation team, the woman's identity initially remained a mystery. "Initially, no one identified the woman," Bhatkule stated. The probe was led by the zonal deputy commissioner of police alongside the senior inspector of the Malwani police station.
The investigation gained momentum after the police circulated the woman's photographs locally. She was eventually identified as a 46-year-old local sex worker. Through interviews with others in her community, investigators learned a critical detail: she was last seen being picked up by a person in an autorickshaw on the very night she was murdered.
The Crucial Pink Dupatta Clue
Acting on this lead, the police team began a meticulous review of CCTV footage from areas the woman frequented. It was during this video analysis that they spotted the pivotal clue.
"While going through the footage, we found an auto in which the end of a pink dupatta was flying out," Inspector Bhatkule explained. "On zooming in further, it appeared that the woman was wearing the same pink salwar that the deceased had worn." This tiny detail, the pink dupatta visible in the wind, connected the autorickshaw directly to the victim.
The Chase and Arrest
With the autorickshaw's license plate now identified, the police quickly contacted auto unions to trace the driver. They discovered the vehicle was operated by Chandrapol Singh, also known as Neta, a 34-year-old who had arrived in Mumbai just two weeks prior to the incident.
However, when officers reached his residence, Singh had already vanished. The police formed multiple teams to locate him. Using technical intelligence, they tracked his movements and discovered he had fled to Mathura.
A special team, led by Assistant Police Inspector Prathamesh Vikhare, immediately traveled to Mathura. They tracked Singh to a relative's home where he was hiding and successfully arrested him on September 30, exactly one week after the crime was discovered. Singh was formally charged with rape and murder.
Confession and Recognition
During interrogation, Singh allegedly confessed to the crime. He told police that an argument had erupted with the victim over money he owed her. In the ensuing altercation, he strangled her to death using her own dupatta. After realizing she was dead, Singh dumped her body on the isolated stretch of Marve Road and immediately fled Mumbai.
The investigative team's diligent work did not go unnoticed. At a recent event, Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti honored the officers involved in solving the case. He publicly commended their professionalism and prompt action, highlighting how their attention to a minor detail led to justice in a complex case.
