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A chilling murder plot in Maharashtra came to light after police discovered that a man who was believed to have died in a car fire was alive, hiding after killing a stranger to fake his own death and claim insurance money.
Police arrest accused in Sindhudurg.
Mumbai: Police in Ausa Taluka of Latur district received information in the early hours of Sunday about a completely charred car with a burnt body inside. The scene initially suggested a fatal accident or suicide. Officers began by identifying the owner of the vehicle and learned that the car had been lent to a relative shortly before the incident.
Investigators tried contacting the relative, Ganesh Chavan, a bank recovery agent, but were told that he had not returned home and his mobile phone was switched off. Given these circumstances, police believed that the burnt body recovered from the vehicle was Chavan himself. His family was informed and began mourning what they believed was his death.
As the investigation progressed, officers noticed inconsistencies that did not fit the initial theory. Certain personal details and circumstances surrounding the body raised suspicion. By Monday, police began a deeper inquiry into Chavan life, hoping to clarify unanswered questions about his movements and personal connections.
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During background checks, police discovered that Chavan was in a relationship with a woman. When she was questioned, a crucial detail emerged. She revealed that after the incident, Chavan had been sending her messages and chatting regularly using a different phone number. This revelation confirmed that the man believed to be dead was in fact alive.
Once Chavan was confirmed alive, police shifted focus to identifying the victim in the burnt car. At the same time, they traced the alternate phone number used by Chavan. This digital trail led investigators from Kolhapur to Vijaydurg in Sindhudurg district, where Chavan was eventually located and taken into custody.
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During interrogation, Chavan confessed to planning the crime for financial gain. Police learned that he had taken out a life insurance policy worth Rs 1 crore. His intention was to fake his death so that the payout could be used to clear a home loan. To carry out this plan, he decided to kill an unknown person and make the death appear as his own.
On Saturday, Chavan offered a lift to a hitchhiker named Govind Yadav at the Tuljapur T junction in Ausa. Officials stated that Yadav was intoxicated at the time. Chavan took advantage of his condition and drove him to an eatery before heading towards a remote road in the Vanavada Pati Vanavada area.
After parking the vehicle, Yadav ate food and soon fell asleep inside the car. Police said Chavan then dragged him into the driver seat, fastened the seat belt and placed matchsticks and plastic bags around him. He set the materials on fire, causing the vehicle and Yadav body to burn completely.
To strengthen the illusion of his own death, Chavan placed his bracelet near the victim body. This was meant to convince investigators and his family that he had died in the fire. The plan initially succeeded, allowing him time to flee and remain hidden.
Police have now registered a murder case against Chavan. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine whether anyone else assisted him in planning or executing the crime. Officials have described the case as a calculated and cold blooded attempt to exploit insurance systems at the cost of an innocent life.
