Mumbai/Navi Mumbai: In a shocking incident highlighting how a love triangle can spiral into brutal violence, Navi Mumbai Police have arrested a police constable for allegedly murdering his close friend after the victim reportedly began dating a woman who was in a relationship with the accused.
The accused, identified as Bandu Bhise, is a married constable attached to the Rabale MIDC Police Station. Police said Bhise, along with three accomplices, allegedly strangled the victim to death inside a car in Kalamboli, Navi Mumbai, and later disposed of the body in a horrifying manner.
According to investigators, after committing the murder, the accused drove nearly 190 kilometres to a village in Satara district, where they allegedly set the body on fire and dumped it into a well located in a farm.
Half-Burnt Body Found in Satara Village
Satara Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi stated that the crime came to light after a farm owner in Sukhed village discovered a partially burnt body on February 6 and immediately alerted the police.
During investigation, police found that the victim’s leg was tied with a rope. The autopsy report later confirmed that the victim died due to strangulation, prompting police to register a murder case.
Police Scanned 300 CCTV Cameras to Track Accused
In a major investigative operation, the Local Crime Branch, under the leadership of Inspector Arun Devkar, along with teams from Lonand Police Station, scanned footage from nearly 300 CCTV cameras along the Pune route over three days.
Police also questioned owners of around 15 vehicles before narrowing down their focus on Bhise’s car. The vehicle was captured on camera at the Khed-Shivapur toll plaza in Pune district while returning towards Mumbai on the morning of February 6.
The car was registered in Pune, and police finally traced its owner, Bandu Bhise, and detained him from Kalamboli on February 9.
Constable Confessed After Initial Evasion
During interrogation, Bhise initially gave misleading statements but later allegedly confessed to the crime. He told investigators that the victim, identified as Bobade, was called for a meeting to resolve their dispute over dating the same woman.
However, police said the meeting turned into a trap, and the accused along with his accomplices strangled Bobade inside the car using a rope.
Three Accomplices Arrested
Police have also arrested Bhise’s three associates — two were apprehended from Pune, while the third was caught from Phaltan in Satara district.
The victim was reportedly unmarried and worked as a cab driver. The woman at the centre of the dispute is married but was living separately from her husband, police said.
Investigation Underway
Authorities stated that further investigation is underway to establish the full chain of events and confirm the role of each accused. Police are also examining whether the crime was pre-planned or committed in the heat of the moment.
The case has sent shockwaves across Navi Mumbai, raising serious concerns about violent crimes triggered by personal relationships and jealousy.
Discover more from SD NEWS agency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.