Rajgad police arrested three men and detained three minors in connection with the murder of 28-year-old IT engineer Saurabh Swami Athawale, whose body was found near a secluded hill close to the Katraj Tunnel on August 19. Athawale, an employee of a multinational firm, had been reported missing the day before.
The case came to light when a commuter spotted the abandoned body and alerted authorities. After reviewing CCTV footage, the police formed four teams and arrested the suspects within two days.
The arrested individuals are Sangam Kshirsagar (19), Shrimant Gujje (21), and Nitin Trimbak (18).
According to Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill, the motive behind the murder was personal enmity. Athawale lived in the same building as a girl whom he regarded like a sister. One of the juvenile accused was in a relationship with her. Athawale had informed the girl’s parents about the relationship, which led to the juvenile being forced to move from Mangdewadi to Wadgaon Maval, fueling resentment and ultimately resulting in the murder.
On August 18, the accused intercepted Athawale near a school where he was waiting to meet the girl. Pretending to want to talk, they took him on a two-wheeler to a remote hill area and killed him using sharp weapons, said Ravindra Singh Gaur, Additional Superintendent of Police.
Initially, the suspects were booked under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Later, charges under Sections 61(1), 61(2), 238 of the BNS, and relevant provisions of the Arms Act were added.
The police have requested custody of the accused until August 28 for further investigation.
