30 April,2026 02:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The accused was tracked down and arrested from Lower Parel in Mumbai. Representational Pic/File
A murder case in Maharashtra's Thane district has been solved with the help of a police dog, leading to the arrest of a suspected serial offender from Mumbai, officials said, reported the PTI.
The victim, identified as Rajesh Yogiraj Prabhulkar (49), was found dead on April 21 near the Bhatsa river in the Khadavli area. His head and face had been severely crushed, prompting police to register a murder case against unknown persons, police said.
According to the PTI, a trained police dog named Bailey played a key role in the investigation. Based on items recovered from the crime scene, the canine tracked a route leading investigators to Khadavli railway station. This breakthrough helped police narrow down their search area and begin further analysis, officials said.
Following the lead, police examined between 100 and 150 CCTV recordings from Khadavli to Mumbai. They also reviewed records of nearly 80 missing persons during the investigation, as per the PTI.
Through detailed scrutiny, officers identified Yogesh Eknath Rane (40) as the prime suspect. According to officials, he frequently moved around crowded areas such as Dadar, Byculla and Lower Parel, often changing routes and wearing a cap to avoid detection, the news agency reported.
The accused was eventually tracked down and arrested from Lower Parel in Mumbai on Tuesday, an officials said.
Police said both the victim and the accused worked together at a catering agency and were known to each other.
Investigators believe the murder took place on April 20 when the two men had gone to the Bhatsa river. An argument reportedly broke out over money that the accused had entrusted to the victim.
During the altercation, the accused allegedly killed his friend by smashing his head with a stone, possibly to prevent identification.
Police revealed that the accused has a criminal background. A theft case involving mobile phones was recently registered against him in Mumbai.
He has also been previously booked in cases of murder and attempted murder in both Mumbai and Raigad, officials added.
(with PTI inputs)
