Thane Engineering Student Arrested for Alleged Murder of Cab Driver
In a shocking development, the Thane Rural Crime Branch has apprehended a 21-year-old engineering student in connection with the alleged murder of a cab driver. The victim's body was discovered in a remote area of Ahilyanagar district after he had been reported missing for four days.
Details of the Arrest and Investigation
The accused has been identified as Adarsh Chandrakant Bhalerao, a second-year electrical engineering student originally from Ghansoli and currently residing in Titwala. He was arrested from Titwala following an intensive investigation by the Thane Rural Crime Branch team.
The deceased, Nasir Ahmed, was a resident of Navi Mumbai who had been reported missing earlier this week. His family had filed a missing person complaint at Rabale Police Station after losing contact with him.
Discovery of the Body and Evidence
According to police reports, Ahmed's body was found on Saturday in the jurisdiction of Otur Police Station near Malshej Ghat. His vehicle was later discovered abandoned in a forested area at Govili village along the Kalyan–Murbad road, within the limits of Kalyan Taluka Police Station.
Police examination revealed that the car contained several blood stains inside, indicating a violent assault had taken place. This evidence became crucial in establishing the nature of the crime.
The Accused's Version of Events
Assistant Police Inspector Bhausaheb Gaikwad stated that during questioning, the accused provided his account of what transpired. According to Bhalerao, he had booked a cab through a ride-hailing app on March 5 to travel to Junnar in Ahilyanagar district, from where he planned to take a bus to Pune to meet a friend.
The accused claimed that when the car reached near Otur, the driver allegedly threatened him with a knife and attempted to rob him. Bhalerao told police that he attacked Ahmed in self-defense during the ensuing scuffle, and by mistake, this led to the driver's death.
Aftermath and Investigation Techniques
Police said that after the incident, the accused allegedly dumped the body near the spot and drove the vehicle to Titwala before abandoning it and fleeing the scene.
During their investigation, police meticulously examined CCTV footage along the vehicle's route as well as footage from petrol pumps. Investigators were able to identify a passenger seen traveling in the vehicle. Using these images, police successfully traced the suspect and arrested him late Saturday night.
Family Reaction and Ongoing Investigation
Meanwhile, Ahmed's family has expressed profound anger over the incident and demanded strict action against those responsible for his death. According to Ahmed's brother, the victim had called his mother on March 5, informing her that he was heading to Pune with a passenger. When the family lost contact with him afterwards, they approached the police and filed the missing person complaint.
Police have confirmed that further investigation is underway to establish the exact sequence of events and verify the accused's claims about the circumstances leading to Ahmed's death.
