Thane police crack year-old murder case, lover arrested

More than a year after a woman's body was found in a creek in Thane district, Maharashtra, police have solved the case. Investigators revealed that the victim, 23-year-old Mansi Bhoir, was murdered by her lover, who pushed her off a bridge after she rejected his sexual advances.

Bhoir had gone missing in November 2023, and her disappearance remained unsolved for several months. However, through a breakthrough in the investigation, police identified the victim and arrested two accomplices of the main accused, Adil Sheikh, who is already in jail for a separate attempted murder charge.

The case began when Bhoir’s family reported her missing. Soon after, her body was discovered in the Kalwa creek, leading police to file an accidental death report (ADR) and launch an investigation. Despite efforts, the case stalled as the victim’s identity remained unknown, and there were no significant leads, said Senior Inspector Gorkhnath Garge.

The breakthrough came when investigators, while working on another murder case, discovered a link to Bhoir's case. Her body was eventually identified, thanks to a tattoo and other distinctive features, with her sister playing a crucial role in confirming her identity.

Following this, investigators examined Bhoir’s call records, which led them to Sheikh, who had been in frequent contact with her prior to her disappearance. It was revealed that Sheikh was near the Kalwa creek on the night of November 4, when Bhoir's body was discovered. According to police, the two had arranged to meet near the Majiwada-Kalwa bridge that evening.

The investigation uncovered that when Bhoir rejected Sheikh’s sexual advances during their meeting, he became enraged and pushed her off the bridge. Bhoir became stuck on a pillar and fell unconscious. Sheikh then called two accomplices, Mehboob Makdum Ali Sheikh (28) and Roopesh Shivkumar Yadav (23), a rickshaw driver, for help. Together, the trio pushed Bhoir into the water, where she drowned and was swept away by the current. Her body was later discovered several kilometers downstream.

The police have since arrested Mehboob Sheikh and Yadav. The main accused, Adil Sheikh, is already behind bars on charges of attempted murder. Police revealed that Sheikh has a long criminal history with several pending cases against him.

On Sunday, a formal case was filed against the three suspects under sections 302 (murder), 201 (destruction of evidence), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.