Kolhapur man arrested after missing woman's body found in vehicle boot

The accused was arrested at a hotel in Bhiwandi, where police found him allegedly intoxicated. Representation pic/istock

A 40-year-old man from Kolhapur was arrested on July 28 after Thane police discovered a missing woman's body inside the boot of his vehicle in Bhiwandi. According to a Narpoli police officer, the victim, Surekha Shivaji Are, 40, had been missing for two days.

Kolhapur police were investigating her disappearance when Narpoli police uncovered her body during a search. Preliminary findings indicate she was strangled to death. The accused, Prakash Anande Patil, hails from the same village - Shirgaon - as the victim, and the two were known to each other. Kolhapur police are currently investigating the motive behind the murder.

Tip-off leads

According to Narpoli police, a confidential informant alerted officers about a suspicious Maruti Suzuki Eeco van bearing a Kolhapur registration number parked in the area. On inspecting the vehicle, police found the woman's body in the boot.

Hotel arrest

Police traced the vehicle's occupants to a nearby hotel, where they found Patil and his wife. His wife told police she had no knowledge of the body and did not notice anything unusual during the overnight journey. Patil was allegedly intoxicated when police raided the hotel. He was arrested, and Kolhapur police were informed.

Official Speak

Senior PI Vijay Kadbane, Narpoli police station
‘We alerted Kolhapur police as they were investigating the deceased's disappearance as a missing person case. Their officers came to Thane, and we handed over custody after completing all court formalities'

July 28
Date the alleged accused was arrested