Pune Bopdev Ghat Gangrape Case; Two suspects mislead police with false identity of third accomplice
Pune Bopdev Ghat Gangrape Case; Two suspects mislead police with false identity of third accomplice
Hunt for Third Suspect Intensifies, Two suspects mislead police with false identity of third accomplice; police work to verify identities and trace past crimes
Pune Police have taken two suspects into further custody as they continue the investigation into the gangrape of a 21-year-old woman on October 3 in the Bopdev Ghat area. The two accused, Chandrakumar Raviprasad Kanojiya (20) from Madhya Pradesh and Akhtar Babu Shaikh (27), also known as Shoaib from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly attempted to mislead authorities by providing a false name for the third suspect, now the subject of a coordinated manhunt.
Inspector from Pune’s Crime Branch informed the Judicial Magistrate First Class on Tuesday that police recently identified the true name of the third accomplice, who remains at large. Hande requested an extension of custody for Kanojiya and Shaikh, arguing it would aid in locating the third suspect and confirming additional aspects of the suspects’ backgrounds. “We have confirmed that Shaikh provided a false name for his father as well. To verify his identity, we will take the suspects to Latur and Nagpur,” He told the court.
Police believe that the two detained suspects possess critical information on the third accomplice’s whereabouts. Hande also shared with the court that the accused may have been involved in prior crimes within Pune Rural jurisdiction. As part of the investigation, police will take the suspects to the Bopdev Ghat crime scene to retrace escape routes and gather further leads.
The incident occurred on October 3 when the victim and her male friend, both college students from outside Pune, visited Bopdev Ghat on a motorcycle. During their outing, the couple was attacked by three assailants who beat the male friend, robbed the couple, and gang-raped the young woman. The suspects, captured on CCTV footage at a local petrol pump and hotel, had previously been involved in thefts outside Pune, police stated. Furthermore, Shaikh had been previously arrested in another case involving the rape and molestation of a minor girl in Pune.
Authorities have announced a reward of ₹10 lakh for information leading to the third suspect’s capture, aiming to expedite the ongoing search efforts.
