Pune Police Crack Murder Mystery Through Liquor Bottle Investigation
In a remarkable display of investigative work, the Pimpri Chinchwad police successfully solved a murder case by meticulously tracing liquor bottles discovered near a decomposed body. The breakthrough led to the arrest of three individuals, including a woman, and revealed a tragic story stemming from an illicit relationship.
Discovery of the Body and Initial Challenges
The case began on January 11 when police discovered the decomposed body of an unidentified man in an open plot in Biradwadi near Chakan. Senior inspector Jitendra Kadam of Chakan (North) police station described the scene as particularly challenging. "There were no personal belongings to establish the victim's identity, and no CCTV cameras in the vicinity," Kadam explained.
What initially seemed like a dead-end investigation took a crucial turn when officers noticed specific items at the crime scene. "We recovered two liquor bottles—one empty and one half-empty—along with a water bottle and opened snack packets," Kadam stated. These seemingly ordinary items would become the key to unlocking the entire case.
The Investigative Breakthrough
Police initially attempted conventional methods to identify the victim, checking nearby companies and labor colonies while circulating photographs of the body locally. When these efforts proved unsuccessful, investigators turned their attention to the liquor bottles.
The investigation took a significant leap forward when police traced the liquor bottles by checking over 50 liquor shops and bars in the area. Eventually, they located the specific shop where the bottles had been purchased. The shop owner provided crucial information, revealing that three men on a motorcycle had bought the liquor on January 7. Police also confirmed that the snack packets found at the scene were purchased from a nearby shop.
Digital and Social Media Investigation
With this new information, police examined CCTV footage along a 6-kilometer stretch and observed three people riding toward the crime location, with only two returning later. Although the motorcycle's registration number was unclear in the footage, investigators employed innovative techniques.
"We identified the vehicle by scanning social media profiles of residents in the area and found a photo of a person with a similar motorcycle," Kadam revealed. This digital detective work led them to the motorcycle owner, who informed police that he had lent his vehicle to a friend on January 7.
Confession and Arrests
Police traced the person to Kharabwadi, where during sustained questioning, a 21-year-old youth confessed to the crime. He revealed that he, his mother, and a friend had killed the victim. According to his statement, the deceased, aged 25, had been allegedly harassing his mother.
Subsequently, police arrested the 40-year-old woman and the third accused, aged 19. The investigation revealed that the woman hailed from Parbhani district, while her son worked at a private firm in Chakan. She had been in a relationship with the victim, who was employed at an eatery in Parbhani.
The Murder Plot Unfolds
According to police accounts, the woman had moved to Kharabwadi approximately two months earlier to live with her son, but the victim continued to call and harass her. This persistent harassment prompted the mother and son to plan his murder.
The woman called the victim to Chakan, and on January 7, he arrived by bus. The woman's son and his friend picked him up from the bus stand and suggested they have drinks before going home. After purchasing liquor, the trio went to an open plot where they consumed alcohol together.
The attack began when the woman's son assaulted the victim with a sharp weapon. When the victim attempted to flee, he was chased and assaulted again before being beaten to death with a stone. The accused then took his mobile phone and documents before fleeing the scene.
After nearly 20 days of meticulous investigation, police successfully arrested all three accused, bringing closure to a complex case that began with just a few liquor bottles and snack packets as clues.
