Nayana Pujari gang rape and murder: Suspect spills beans on pals

Reveals accomplices were involved in other rapes

Rajesh Pandurang Choudhari (23), one of the suspects in the Nayana Pujari gang rape and murder, has confessed before the court that Yogesh Ashok Raut (24), Mahesh Balasaheb Thakur (24) of Khed taluka and Vishwas Hindurao Kadam (26) of Dighigaon had raped at least three other women in the past and raped and killed the fourth woman.

Choudhari's confession was recorded on camera on October 11 after he turned approver.

It was produced before the court today with the authorised signature of Special Public Prosecutor Harshad Nimbalkar and defence lawyer B A Aloor.

Nayana Pujari (28), a resident of Katraj, was gang-raped and murdered on October 7 last year allegedly by Raut, Choudhari, Thakur and Kadam.

17-page confession
Choudhari in his confession of 17 pages has stated that he and Raut were from the same village. He knew Raut since childhood. He had befriended Thakur and Kadam through Raut. Raut had told him that the trio had raped at least three other women in the past and raped and killed a fourth woman.

Choudhari said that he was working as a security guard at the company where Pujari worked since July 7, 2006.
u00a0
On the day of the crime, he received a call from Raut, who told him in code language that they had to go out.

He went to Wagholi on his two-wheeler.

He followed Raut and company till Shankar Parvati Mangal Kayalaya, where they raped Pujari, he said.

The suspects were cab drivers in the same firm that employed the victim. They got scared she would recognise them and so they decided to kill her. Choudhari did not want to participate in the murder. They allowed him to return home on the condition that he would not tell anyone about the crime.

Later, Choudhari received a call from Raut who said they had killed Pujari by strangulating her with dupatta and had then thrown her body in the forest of Jerewadi near Rajguru Khed.