Pune Crime Files: how autopsy report of a carpenter who ‘drowned’ revealed foul play, leading cops to 2 murderers

While it initially appeared to be an accidental drowning, the post-mortem report stated otherwise. “The doctors said he had died earlier, and the examination also indicated ante-mortem injuries. This was an important turning point,” said an officer who was part of the investigation. A team led by Sandesh Kenjale, Inspector, Shirur police station, and sub-inspectors Shubham Chavan and Dilip Pawar began the probe soon after.

The police mobilised their network of informants, canvassed the area for witnesses, and started analysing technical leads, including Call Detail Records and CCTV footage. Before long, it emerged that Khandagale had gone to a local bar with his friend Akash Dnyaneshwar Lohar, 25, and a 16-year-old boy, and the three got into a brawl. Lohar and the minor subsequently took Khandagale on a motorbike to a secluded location in the Pritam Prakash Nagar area where Khandagale’s body was found later.

Further investigation revealed that Lohar and the minor were on the run. Two separate teams were formed for a coordinated search. Inspector Kenjale received a tip-off that Lohar was hiding in a Kauthali village in Pandharpur taluka, Solapur, while the boy was hiding in Shirur. Both were nabbed.

Questioning revealed that the two had strangled Khandagale before dumping the body in the pit to destroy evidence. Charged with murder and destruction of evidence, Lohar is currently in prison under judicial custody, while the minor is slated to be tried before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB).

Besides Inspector Kenjale and the sub-inspectors, the probe team included constables Nathsaheb Jagtap, Akshay Kalamkar, Sachin Bhoi, Vijay Shinde, Nitesh Thorat, Nikhil Gawade, Niraj Pisal, Ambadas More, and Ajay Patil.