Kalyan teacher killed in property grab plot; three held, say police

The body of the deceased was found along the Sinnar-Ghoti road in Nashik district, police said. Representational Pic/File

Police have arrested three men for allegedly murdering a 53-year-old school teacher and LIC agent from Kalyan area of Thane district in Maharashtra, in a suspected plot to take control of her property, reported the PTI.

The victim, identified as Sangita Maruti Chandanshive, was reported missing on July 15 after she failed to return home from Shahapur, where she had gone for official work on July 14, the news agency reported.

Her body was found the following day along the Sinnar-Ghoti road in Nashik district, under the jurisdiction of Wadivarhe Police Station. Police registered a case of murder and destruction of evidence.

Investigation reveals alleged property motive

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Amarsingh Jadhav said the Crime Branch investigation, involving CCTV footage analysis, technical evidence and information from sources, led police to two suspects.

The accused were identified as Digambar Bhaguji Awhad (48), a real estate broker from Asangaon, and Tushar Muralidhar Ratnaparkhi (52), a driver from Ambivli.

Police alleged that the two, along with accomplices Santosh Ramesh Jadhav (40) from Nashik and Vinodchandra alias Santosh Pandey from Ambivli, planned the murder.

Accused allegedly used fake documents

According to police, the accused allegedly contacted Chandanshive on the pretext of purchasing an LIC policy and brought her to a rented flat in Asangaon.

Investigators alleged that they prepared a forged will naming Awhad and Ratnaparkhi as beneficiaries of her property.

Police claimed that the victim was assaulted, forced to sign property-related documents and later suffocated to death.

Body allegedly dumped in Nashik

After the alleged murder, the accused reportedly transported the body in a car and abandoned it near a college on the Sinnar-Ghoti road in Nashik to conceal the crime.

Crime Branch Unit-3 senior inspector Ajit Shinde said the third accused, Santosh Ramesh Jadhav, was arrested by Nashik Police on Wednesday.

With this arrest, the total number of accused held in the case has reached three.

Police are continuing efforts to trace the fourth accused, Vinodchandra alias Santosh Pandey, who is wanted for his alleged involvement in the crime.

The investigation into the murder and alleged property fraud conspiracy is ongoing.

(with PTI inputs)