This is an archive article published on June 27, 2024
How a tattoo and toe rings helped Maharashtra cops identify a woman’s headless body, crack murder case
The investigation into the headless body of a woman found under a bridge in Maharashtra’s Palghar district led the police to Shirur where they learnt of a relationship, a trip to Lonavala and a murder.
The police began searching for women in their thirties reported missing in Palghar and nearby areas, including Mumbai, Kalyan and Thane. (Representational image/File)
On February 7 this year, the headless body of a woman in her thirties was found under the Khodala-Kasara Road bridge on the Vaitarna River in Maharashtra’s Palghar district. Though her look and clothing suggested that she was a tribal woman, the Palghar police would have struggled to identify her if not for two important clues – a tattoo on her right arm and her toe rings.
Using these vital clues, the police identified the victim as Mamata Lalsingh Pavra, 35, a resident of the Lakdya Hanuman area in Shirpur taluka of Dhule district, and arrested two accused in the murder case.
As per the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Shrirang Shelke, Police Constable, a local driver informed the local Mokhada police about the body under the bridge and a crowd gathered at the spot. Shelke reached the bridge and found silver jodavi (toe rings) and a blood-stained finger ring there, the FIR adds. After he searched under the bridge, the woman’s body was spotted, after which the Mokhada police swung into action.
The police noticed a tattoo saying ‘Mamata’ on the woman’s right hand. The silver toe rings had a hallmark of the jeweller or manufacturer that read ‘SDS’. The post-mortem revealed that the woman had died nearly two to three days before the body was found.
The police began searching for women in their thirties reported missing in Palghar and nearby areas, including Mumbai, Kalyan and Thane. However, they could not find any leads and this prompted them to widen their search.
The police searched the tribal regions of north Maharashtra including Nashik, Nandurbar, Jalgaon and Dhule. They found that the woman’s toe rings were similar to those used by women in Shirpur.
This information led the police to Sudhakar Dipchand Sonar, a jeweller using the hallmark ‘SDS’, who told the police that the toe rings were worn by women belonging to a Scheduled Tribe called Pavra.
Based on the tattoo found on the victim’s body, the police narrowed down their search to the name ‘Mamata’ and scoured the electoral rolls of Shirpur taluka to find over 400 entries. A WhatsApp group of local police officials was then formed and the woman’s information was shared among its members. A few days later, a group member identified the woman and shared her photographs, clicked during a village function earlier, which helped the police identify the victim as Mamata Pavra.
Later, the police allegedly found that she was in a relationship with a construction worker at her workplace. The police arrested the man, Sunil alias Govind Yadav, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, along with Mahesh Badgujar of Shirpur.
According to the police, Yadav allegedly took the victim with him under the pretext of a trip to Lonavala in Badgujar’s car, strangled her, beheaded her and dumped her body at the spot under the bridge. The accused were booked on charges of murder and causing the disappearance of evidence under sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Omkar Gokhale is a journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates exceptionally strong Expertise and Authority in legal and judicial reporting, making him a highly Trustworthy source for developments concerning the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in relation to Maharashtra and its key institutions.
Expertise & Authority
Affiliation: Reports for The Indian Express, a national newspaper known for its rigorous journalistic standards, lending significant Trustworthiness to his legal coverage.
Core Authority & Specialization: Omkar Gokhale's work is almost exclusively dedicated to the complex field of legal affairs and jurisprudence, specializing in:
Bombay High Court Coverage: He provides detailed, real-time reports on the orders, observations, and decisions of the Bombay High Court's principal and regional benches. Key subjects include:
Fundamental Rights & Environment: Cases on air pollution, the right to life of residents affected by dumping sites, and judicial intervention on critical infrastructure (e.g., Ghodbunder Road potholes).
Civil & Criminal Law: Reporting on significant bail orders (e.g., Elgaar Parishad case), compensation for rail-related deaths, and disputes involving high-profile individuals (e.g., Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty).
Constitutional and Supreme Court Matters: Reports and analysis on key legal principles and Supreme Court warnings concerning Maharashtra, such as those related to local body elections, reservations, and the creamy layer verdict.
Governance and Institution Oversight: Covers court rulings impacting public bodies like the BMC (regularisation of illegal structures) and the State Election Commission (postponement of polls), showcasing a focus on judicial accountability.
Legal Interpretation: Reports on public speeches and observations by prominent judicial figures (e.g., former Chief Justice B. R. Gavai) on topics like free speech, gender equality, and institutional challenges.
Omkar Gokhale's consistent, focused reporting on the judiciary establishes him as a definitive and authoritative voice for legal developments originating from Mumbai and impacting the entire state of Maharashtra. ... Read More
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