The Thane Crime Branch has successfully resolved a 12-year-old murder case, arresting construction contractor and local 'reel star' Surendra Patil (55) for allegedly abducting and killing a Dombivli resident over a property dispute in 2014. The victim's body was dumped in a forest near Murbad.
Background of the Case
Police stated that the victim, Karan Bagul, owned approximately ten guntha of land in Dombivli. In 2014, he entered into a development agreement with Patil. However, a dispute arose over the project, leading to Bagul's abduction on October 4, 2014. He was taken to Patil's office in Dawdi, where he was fatally assaulted with an iron rod.
Disposal of the Body
Investigators revealed that Patil allegedly enlisted two workers, Chandrakant Gaykar (39) and Suresh Degawat (32), to dispose of the body in a remote forested area in Murbad. The victim's face was severely disfigured, making identification difficult when the body was recovered by Murbad police following a local alert. With no leads at the time, the case was registered as an accidental death.
Reopening the Investigation
Bagul was listed as missing in Manpada police records for years. The breakthrough came when Patil was recently arrested in an arms case, prompting investigators to reopen the probe. This led to the identification of the victim and the alleged conspiracy. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Amar Sinh Jadhav confirmed that the iron rod used in the assault has been recovered. All three accused have been remanded to police custody until May 2.
Patil's Criminal History
The police described Patil as a habitual offender with multiple serious cases registered across Thane district. He made headlines last month after a midnight raid at his Dawdi residence uncovered a staggering arsenal of illegal weaponry concealed within a hidden compartment of a shoe rack in his house.
