History-Sheeter With 35 Cases Arrested by Pune Rural Police; Three Murders Solved
History-Sheeter With 35 Cases Arrested by Pune Rural Police; Three Murders Solved
The Pune Rural Police have arrested a history-sheeter with 35 criminal cases, along with his associate, in a major breakthrough that led to the detection of three murder cases across Pune Rural and Thane.
The arrests were made during a joint operation by the Local Crime Branch and Khed Police, following an investigation into the murder of 33-year-old Dhananjay Maruti Ghevde, a resident of Rakshewadi. His body was discovered in an open field in Jaidwadi village in Khed taluka, bearing severe head and facial injuries inflicted with a weapon. A case was registered against unidentified persons based on a complaint filed by his brother.
Despite the absence of CCTV cameras at the crime scene, police teams tracked the suspects by analysing footage from nearby routes. After reviewing visuals from over 100 cameras and covering a distance of nearly 145 km over six days, investigators identified the accused as Lalit Deepak Khollam, a known repeat offender, and his accomplice Nandalal Dileep Hole.
Acting on a tip-off, police laid a trap in the Vadgaon Nimbalkar area on March 25. The suspects attempted to escape through sugarcane fields but were chased down and apprehended before they could flee.
During interrogation, both accused confessed to killing Ghevde over personal disputes, using an iron rod and stones. A third accused, Nilesh Kailas Sanas, was also arrested for allegedly providing financial assistance in the crime.
Further investigation revealed the involvement of the main accused in two additional murder cases. In one case registered in Thane, he allegedly abducted and killed 26-year-old Shrikant Wadekar over financial disagreements, later burning the body and disposing of the remains near Manchar.
In another case, the accused is said to have murdered Shrikant’s mother, Rupali Wadekar, at his residence in Shiroli in November 2025, following repeated disputes. Both cases were reopened and solved based on the accused’s confession.
Police have recovered key evidence, including the weapons used in the crime, partially burnt clothing, and the victim’s mobile phone from a well near Wafgaon. Additionally, two country-made firearms and four cartridges were seized during the operation.
According to Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill, the main accused has an extensive criminal background, including multiple serious offences such as murder, attempted murder, robbery, and burglary. He had previously been booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act and was out on bail at the time of the arrest.
Police officials confirmed that further investigation into the cases is ongoing.
