The victim’s wife had recently lodged a police complaint against the accused who was charged with allegedly molesting a neighbour, the police said, adding that he was out on bail when the incident took place
The incident took place shortly after the accused was released on bail, officials said. Representational Pic/File
A man is fighting for his life in Nanded district of Maharashtra after he was allegedly set on fire by a molestation accused and his family members in Bendri village, Naigaon tehsil, reported the PTI.
The incident occurred in the early hours of December 29, 2025, shortly after the prime accused was released on bail.
The victim’s wife had recently lodged a police complaint against the main accused, Santosh Madhavrao Bendrikar, who was charged with allegedly molesting a neighbour, according to the PTI.
Bendrikar was booked by the Naigaon police on December 22 and on December 28, after a week-long search, police arrested him in the Narsi area.
The police said that on the early hours of December 29, Bendrikar was released on bail and returned to the village.
Confronted the victim’s husband
According to police officials, Bendrikar, accompanied by his father Madhav and brother Shivkumar, confronted the victim’s husband at around 5:30 AM while he was tending to his buffaloes near a tin shed.
"They allegedly poured petrol on him and set him ablaze," a police officer said.
Locals rushed the man to hospital after hearing his screams. He remains in critical condition in Nanded city.
Police action
The Naigaon police immediately arrested all three accused, who were later remanded in police custody on December 30 for further interrogation.
A fresh case of attempt to murder has been registered under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Community response
The brutal nature of the crime has caused significant tension in Bendri village.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Shyam Panegaonkar visited the site to oversee the investigation and ensure law and order.
Teenager trapped through Instagram, kidnapped; 4 held
A 15-year-old Navi Mumbai boy was lured through a fake Instagram account and kidnapped for ransom by four young men before police moved swiftly and rescued him, an official said on Thursday, reported the PTI.
According to police, the Class 10 student was befriended on Instagram by the accused, who posed as a young girl. Over time, they built an emotional connection with the boy, creating the impression of a romantic relationship and gaining his complete trust, according to the PTI.
Using this facade, the accused invited him to meet at Nandivali in Kalyan (East) of Thane district. The boy reached the location in an app-based cab, said the official.
However, four young men kidnapped him and confined him in a room in a residential building. They contacted his relatives and demanded a ransom of Rs 20 lakh, sending a WhatsApp voice message to press their demand, the news agency reported.
Probe launched
After receiving a complaint from the teenager's parents on December 28, police used CCTV footage and technical analysis to trace the vehicle that had dropped off the boy at the location and tracked down its driver.
The police gathered more inputs and raided a room at Nandivali, rescued the boy and arrested the four accused within 24 hours of the complaint, the official said.
The accused have been booked for kidnapping and extortion, the official said.
(with PTI inputs)
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