PALGHAR: The skeletal remains of a 32-year-old history-sheeter, who had been missing for nearly five months, were recovered from a water tank in a residential complex in Nalasopara, Maharashtra's Palghar district, police reported on Saturday. Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the alleged murder.
Victim Identified
The deceased has been identified as Ravi Bidlan, who had been missing since January 15. According to police sources, Bidlan was involved in multiple serious criminal cases, as reported by news agency PTI.
Discovery of the Skeleton
An official from Achole Police Station under the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar (MBVV) Police Commissionerate stated, "The crime came to light on Friday after the victim's brother, Pankaj, approached the police with fresh information about Ravi. He alleged that Ravi had been murdered by a group and his body was thrown into a water tank. A police team immediately went to the spot and recovered the skeleton from the tank." The family identified Ravi based on the clothing found along with the skeletal remains.
Motive and Arrests
Investigators discovered that a few days before his disappearance, Ravi had allegedly assaulted Rohan Jagdale, also known as Tiger. Police suspect that Jagdale and his associates later attacked Ravi in retaliation, killing him by striking his head with a stone before disposing of the body in the water tank to conceal the crime. The skeletal remains have been sent for forensic examination, and the report is pending.
Based on a complaint filed by the victim's brother, police arrested the main accused, Rohan Jagdale (22), along with Karan Shankar Shettyar (22), Utkarsh Anand Avasarmal (20), Shakti Sunil Singh (28), and Sumit Azad Sarsar alias Bapurna (25). All five accused are history-sheeters, police confirmed. A murder case has been registered against them, and further investigation is underway.
