Mahasamund Police Crack Year-Old Blind Murder Case Using DNA and Field Intelligence
The Mahasamund police have successfully solved a blind murder case that remained unsolved for over a year. They arrested a repeat offender for the killing of a 55-year-old woman. The victim's charred remains were discovered in the Kodar Dam forest area.
Discovery of the Body and Initial Investigation
A local resident alerted the Tumgaon police on April 2, 2025. The informant reported finding a badly burnt and mutilated body in the teak plantations near Kodar Dam. The police immediately registered a case under Sections 103(1) and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Investigators faced a significant challenge because the body was unrecognizable. They turned to scientific methods to identify the deceased.
DNA Testing Reveals Victim's Identity
DNA profiling played a crucial role in the investigation. The tests identified the victim as Sunita Rajak, a resident of Dhamtari. Her relatives provided key information to the police.
They stated that Sunita Rajak had gone missing on January 30, 2025. She was last seen taking a lift from an unidentified motorcyclist after visiting her sister in Patewa village for a local fair. Her destination was Mahasamund.
Arrest and Confession of the Accused
During the investigation, the police detained Suraj Dhruve, a resident of Khunteri village. Dhruve eventually confessed to the crime under questioning.
Further inquiries revealed a disturbing history. Suraj Dhruve had been released from prison in December 2024. He had served a sentence for the 2018 murder of his wife, Santoshi Dhruve.
Detailed Account of the Crime
Dhruve provided a chilling narrative of events. He met the victim at Patewa's Nandi Chowk on January 30, 2025. He offered her a lift, promising to drop her at the Mahasamund bus stand.
Instead, he deceived her and took her to an abandoned house behind his brother-in-law's residence in Kaunwajhar. Dhruve kept her there for nearly a month and a half. He falsely claimed he would provide her with employment.
When Sunita Rajak insisted on returning home, Dhruve decided to kill her. His motive was to steal her jewellery. In the last week of March 2025, around 7:30 PM, he took her to a secluded spot in the teak forest near Kodar Dam.
He pretended he was dropping her at a relative's house. Dhruve stopped his motorcycle, claiming a mechanical fault. He then strangled her with her own saree and robbed her of her jewellery.
To conceal her identity, Dhruve set the body and her belongings on fire. He used dry leaves and wood to fuel the blaze.
Recovery of Evidence and Police Statement
Based on the accused's statement, the police recovered crucial evidence. They found the motorcycle used in the crime. Officers also retrieved the victim's stolen jewellery, which included two gold earrings, silver anklets, and toe rings.
The Mahasamund Superintendent of Police commented on the case. He stated that the breakthrough was achieved through a combination of scientific investigation, thorough data analysis, and strong field intelligence. This multi-pronged approach proved effective in solving the complex blind murder.
