Pune Rural Police have apprehended two individuals with criminal records, successfully linking them to three murder cases, including a suspected contract killing in Khed taluka. The arrests also shed light on two previously unsolved murders from November of the previous year, involving a woman and her son, stemming from a personal dispute.
Breakthrough in Khed Contract Killing Investigation
The investigation into a suspected contract killing in Khed taluka led Pune Rural Police to make a significant breakthrough with the arrest of two history-sheeters, identified as Lalit Deepak Khollam and Nandalal Dileep Hole. The police, acting on specific information, apprehended the duo and subsequently discovered their involvement in multiple homicides. This development not only helped solve the Khed case but also provided crucial leads into other unresolved criminal incidents.
Unraveling Unsolved Murders
During the course of the Khed investigation, authorities uncovered evidence suggesting the involvement of Khollam and Hole in the murders of a 46-year-old woman and her 21-year-old son, which occurred in November of the preceding year. These murders, initially suspected to be a fallout of a personal dispute, were found to be connected to the same accused individuals. The Pune Rural Police have stated that further investigation is underway to ascertain the complete details of their criminal activities.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the probe revealed that after Shrikant, believed to be the woman’s son, went missing on November 7, Khollam and Hole allegedly kidnapped him. He was reportedly taken to a flat in Shiroli, where he was murdered with a metal rod. His body was then transported to the Manchar area and cremated, with the ashes subsequently dispersed in the Ghod river. A kidnapping case had been registered by the Thane City police following Shrikant’s disappearance. The police have now added murder charges to the existing offense against Khollam and Hole in connection with this case.
Information available with The Chenab Times indicates that the investigation also uncovered the murder of Rupali Wadekar, the mother of Shrikant, on November 13, 2025. The crime reportedly took place at Khollam’s flat in Shiroli following repeated arguments over her missing son. The police are continuing to piece together the timeline and motives behind these complex cases.
Linked to Previous Killings and Disputes
The arrests were made possible through a joint operation by the Local Crime Branch and the Khed Police Station. The investigation into the Khed incident began after the body of Dhananjay Maruti Ghevde (33), a resident of Rakshewadi, was discovered in an open field at Jaidwadi in Khed taluka. He had sustained severe injuries to his head and face, indicative of an attack with a weapon. A murder case was registered against unknown individuals based on a complaint filed by his brother, Sachin Ghevde. Despite the absence of CCTV cameras at the immediate crime scene, police managed to trace footage from nearby connecting roads, which aided in identifying the suspects.
During interrogation, both Khollam and Hole confessed to the murder of Ghevde. They revealed that the motive was linked to personal disputes, and Ghevde was killed using an iron rod and stones. A third accused, Nilesh Kailas Sanas (34), was also arrested for providing financial assistance for the crime. The police are also investigating if these arrests have any connection to other contract killing plots that have recently surfaced in the Pune region, including a case involving a ₹75 lakh contract and another where a bride allegedly hired killers to murder her fiancé.
Ongoing Investigations and Broader Context
The Pune police have been actively investigating several incidents of contract killings and murders in recent months. Earlier this year, a real estate developer was arrested for allegedly hiring contract killers for Rs 75 lakh to eliminate his son over a property dispute. In another case, a bride-to-be was arrested for allegedly hiring contract killers to murder her fiancé to avoid an arranged marriage. The ongoing efforts by the police aim to bring to justice those involved in these violent crimes and restore a sense of security in the region.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
