Mulshi Labourer Killed, Body Found in Lake; Accused Held in Delhi
A 20-year-old man has been arrested from Delhi in connection with the murder of 26-year-old labourer Mahendrakumar Banjare in Mulshi. His body was recovered from a lake with his limbs tied and a stone fastened to his legs. Police say robbery was the motive, while another report cites a ₹2,000 dispute. A second suspect remains wanted.
Mulshi : Pimpri-Chinchwad Police have arrested a 20-year-old man from Delhi in connection with the murder of a labourer whose body was recovered from a lake in Mulshi with his hands and legs tied and a stone fastened to his legs.
The victim has been identified as Mahendrakumar Omprakash Banjare (26), a labourer originally from Chhattisgarh who was living with his wife at Dudhale Vasti in Lavale, Mulshi.
According to police, Banjare left his home at around 8 pm on August 30 after telling his wife that he was going out. When he failed to return, his wife approached police and a missing-person investigation was launched.
On September 2, police searching for Banjare discovered his body in a lake in the Lavale area. His hands and legs had been tied, while a heavy stone had reportedly been fastened to his legs. Police subsequently added murder and evidence-destruction provisions to the case. Investigators said the post-mortem findings indicated that Banjare was alive when he entered the water.
With limited CCTV coverage around the rural crime scene, investigators examined footage from nearby areas, questioned people at labour camps and carried out technical analysis. The investigation eventually pointed towards two labourers who had allegedly returned to Delhi after the crime.
A Pimpri-Chinchwad Crime Branch team travelled to Delhi and traced Gopal alias Raj Sadhan Biswas (20) in Ghazipur. He was detained and brought back for further investigation before being formally arrested. Police are continuing their search for a second suspect believed to have been involved in the crime.
Police said robbery was the motive behind the killing and that Banjare had recently received his wages and was carrying cash. Another local report, citing the investigation, states that a dispute involving ₹2,000 preceded the killing. Investigators are continuing to establish the exact sequence of events and the role of the second suspect.
The accused has been remanded to police custody until September 19, while further investigation into the killing, the money involved and the absconding suspect is underway.