From Missing Person to Murder Investigation
The peaceful village of Borademala in Shirur was shaken when 31-year-old carpenter Ashok Tatya Khandagale went missing on September 25, 2025. His family's worst fears were confirmed two days later when his body was discovered in a water-filled pit approximately 4 kilometers from his home.
What initially appeared to be a tragic case of accidental drowning quickly took a sinister turn when the post-mortem examination revealed disturbing evidence. The autopsy report indicated ante-mortem injuries and confirmed that Khandagale had died before entering the water, completely changing the nature of the investigation.
The Investigation That Uncovered the Truth
Under the leadership of Inspector Sandesh Kenjale from Shirur police station, with sub-inspectors Shubham Chavan and Dilip Pawar, a comprehensive probe was launched immediately. The investigative team employed multiple strategies to crack the case.
The police mobilized their informant network, conducted extensive area canvassing for witnesses, and analyzed technical evidence including Call Detail Records and CCTV footage. This multi-pronged approach soon yielded crucial breakthroughs.
Investigators discovered that on the day he went missing, Khandagale had visited a local bar with his friend Akash Dnyaneshwar Lohar, aged 25, and a 16-year-old minor. The social outing turned deadly when an argument escalated into a physical confrontation.
The Chilling Murder and Subsequent Arrests
Further investigation revealed that after the altercation, Lohar and the minor took Khandagale on a motorcycle to the secluded Pritam Prakash Nagar area - the same location where his body would later be discovered.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to strangling Khandagale to death before dumping his body in the water-filled pit in an attempt to destroy evidence and make the murder appear like an accidental drowning.
As the suspects went on the run, police formed two separate teams for a coordinated search operation. Acting on a tip-off, Inspector Kenjale's team tracked Lohar to Kauthali village in Pandharpur taluka, Solapur, while the minor was located hiding in Shirur itself. Both were apprehended successfully.
Akash Dnyaneshwar Lohar now faces charges of murder and destruction of evidence and remains in judicial custody, while the minor will be tried before the Juvenile Justice Board according to legal procedures.
The successful investigation team included constables Nathsaheb Jagtap, Akshay Kalamkar, Sachin Bhoi, Vijay Shinde, Nitesh Thorat, Nikhil Gawade, Niraj Pisal, Ambadas More, and Ajay Patil, whose collective efforts brought justice for the victim and his grieving family.
