Overview
- Police in Thane arrested Latabai Natha Gangurde, 60, and Jagdish Mahadev Mhatre, 67, on charges of murder and causing disappearance of evidence.
- Victim Rupali Vilas Gangurde, 35, was found on January 1 near Kalyan’s Waldhuni bridge with severe head and facial injuries and was declared dead at hospital.
- An Accidental Death Report was first registered at the Mahatma Phule Chowk police station before investigators treated the death as homicide following interrogation.
- Officers say the motive involved control of about ₹9–10 lakh in gratuity from Rupali’s late husband and a compassionate railway appointment.
- Investigators allege the duo attacked Rupali with an iron rod, cleaned the scene, changed her clothes, dumped the body, then filed a missing report to mislead police, with ACP Kalyanji Gete saying the case was solved within 24 hours.