Pune: Father Arrested Within 12 Hours For Allegedly Killing 3-Year-Old Daughter
Pune: Father Arrested Within 12 Hours For Allegedly Killing 3-Year-Old Daughter
Pune, May 8, 2026: A 29-year-old man was arrested by the Alephata Police within 12 hours for allegedly murdering his three-year-old daughter and abandoning her body in a forest area in Junnar taluka of Pune district.
The accused, identified as Sagar Sadashiv Shinde, a resident of Gaikwad Basti in Moshi, had reportedly taken his two children five-year-old Aryan and three-year-old Harshada out on Tuesday, telling family members they were going for an outing.
The incident came to light on Wednesday morning after local residents spotted the young boy alone and crying near a forested stretch along the Pune–Nashik Highway at Santwadi. When questioned by locals, the child reportedly said that his father had taken both children into the forest and left him there overnight.
Police from Alephata Police Station were alerted and subsequently contacted the children’s grandparents. Meanwhile, the accused allegedly returned home and attempted to convince family members that both children were safe at a rented accommodation in Chakan.
However, his statements reportedly raised suspicion among relatives, who informed the police. During questioning, Shinde allegedly confessed to strangling his daughter Harshada and dumping her body in a forest area near Santwadi.
A police search operation was immediately launched, and the toddler’s body was recovered on Wednesday morning. The body was later sent to the Aale Primary Health Centre for post-mortem examination.
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and further investigation is underway.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of senior officials, including Additional Superintendent of Police Sandeepsingh Gill, Ramesh Chopade, and Sub-Divisional Police Officer Dhananjay Patil. The investigation team included Inspector Vishwas Jadhav, Assistant Inspector Amol Panhalkar, and other police personnel.
