This story is from May 18, 2016

Display of missing persons' photos helps crack murder in Katraj Ghat

A recent display of photographs to identify missing and dead persons led the Bharati Vidyapeeth police to solve a month-old murder.
Display of missing persons' photos helps crack murder in Katraj Ghat
Pune: A recent display of photographs to identify missing and dead persons led the Bharati Vidyapeeth police to solve a month-old murder.
They were able to ascertain the identity of the deceased and nab the duo who had bludgeoned him to death in the Katraj Ghat section on April 4.
The deceased was identified as Jetappa Diddimani (28), a dumper driver, from Bavdhan.
The suspects were Sidhharam Bankalagi (26) of Ghorpade Peth and Shrishail Kuantagi (22) of Dhayari Phata, but originally from Karnataka. The Bharati Vidyapeeth police team, led by senior inspector Balasaheb Surve, arrested both.
The deceased Jetappa and the suspect Sidhharam used to visit the same sex worker in Budhwar Peth area. Jetappa would threaten Sidhharam on his cellphone warning him against meeting the woman.
"Angered by this, Sidhharam hatched a plot to eliminate Jetappa and bludgeoned him to death with the help of his friend," Uttam Budgude, sub-inspector of the Bharati Vidyapeeth police station, who is investigating the case, said. Sidhharam and Jetappa had met for the first time the day the latter was murdered.
On April 4, forest guard Sambhaji Dhanawade found a half-naked body of a man in the Katraj Ghat section. The man had been bludgeoned to death and no clues could be found. The Bharati Vidyapeeth police registered a case of murder and began the probe. There were no clues about the suspect either.

A display of photographs of missing and dead persons was organized by a state government agency in the city. The Bharati Vidyapeeth police visited the camp and found that the photo matched that of a missing person's complaint registered with the Hinjewadi police.
The Bharati Vidyapeeth police took details from the Hinjewadi police and summoned the complainant who was the wife of deceased to the police station. "When we showed the few clothes found on the body and the photographs and the woman confirmed they were Diddimani," Budgude said.
Police constables Pradip Gurav and Vinod Bhandalkar received a tip-off that Sidhharam and Shrishail were involved in the murder. "We took the duo into custody and during interrogation, the duo admitted to their involvement in the murder," Budgude added.
Murder Plot
Sub-inspector Uttam Budgude said Jetappa and Sidhharam were interested in the same sex worker in Budhwar Peth, but did not know each other. Jetappa came to know from her that a man from his native village was also visiting her. He got Sidhharam's number from her and began threatening Sidhharam, telling him to stay away from her, Budgude said.
Sidhharam hatched the plot. On April 4, Jetappa himself called Sidhharam telling him he wished to meet him in person. They met at Bavdhan and bought liquor. Sidhharam's friend Shrishail was with them. All of them went to Katraj Ghat section and drank.
"Sidhharam and Shrishail bludgeoned Jetappa to death after he became unconscious, removed his clothes and cellphone and dumped the body into the jungle," Budgude added.
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