The Nagpur police have uncovered a murder planned by a woman over a property dispute worth ₹300 crore. The case, initially seen as a hit-and-run accident, took a sinister turn when deeper investigations revealed a premeditated murder.
On May 22, 82-year-old Purushottam Puttewar, a businessman from Nagpur, was struck by a speeding car in Balaji Nagari, Nagpur. Initially treated as an accident, the case saw new light when a senior police officer ordered a thorough investigation. The probe led to startling discoveries about the involvement of the victim's daughter-in-law, Archana Puttewar.
Archana, who works as the assistant director of the Town Planning Department, allegedly hired contract killers to murder her father-in-law. The motive was a property dispute valued at ₹300 crore. She had promised the killers ₹1 crore for the job.
The police arrested Archana on a production warrant along with her four associates.
Prashant Parlewar, 59, was arrested by the Nagpur Crime Branch on Tuesday night The other arrested persons are identified as suspected contract killers Neeraj Ishwar Nimje (30), Sachin Mohan Dharmik (29) and Sarthak Bagde (29). Another accused, Payal Nageshwar (28), is the personal assistant of the prime accused.
The suspects have been remanded to police custody until June 15. Archana is set to be presented in court on Thursday. During the investigation, the police seized two cars, an SUV, 140 grams of gold, ₹3 lakh in cash, seven mobile phones, and other materials linked to the crime.
The police uncovered that the murder plan was initially concocted by Archana, Nageshwar, and Bagde, with Dharmik joining later due to the promise of a beer bar licence.
Also watch: Pune Porsche car crash: probe transferred to crime branch, boy's father in judicial custody