Husband arrested within two hours murders wife in broad daylight at petrol pump

Lokmat News Network

Karmad

A petrol pump worker supporting her two children, was murdered by her second husband on Thursday at around 12.30 pm at the Indian petrol pump near Ganpati Temple in Karmad. Both are natives of Chittepimpalgaon; Pooja had been staying in Karmad. The accused has been arrested.

The deceased has been identified as Pooja Gawande (27, Chittepimpalgaon currently residing in Karmad). The accused husband, Satyam Gawande (28), also a resident of Chittepimpalgaon, has been arrested. Accordijng to the police, Pooja had joined duty at 9.30 am and had been working there for the past one-and-a-half months. Around 12.30 pm, Satyam arrived on a motorcycle, parked near her fuel stand, grabbed her, and when she tried to escape, held her by the neck, stabbed her in the back with a sharp knife, and slit her throat. The petrol pump owner tried to intervene but was threatened at knifepoint. The accused fled on his motorcycle. The entire incident was recorded on CCTV. Police said Satyam had come earlier in the morning with intent to kill but left due to heavy rush. He returned in the afternoon when the crowd thinned, carried out the attack within moments, tucked the knife into his waistband, and escaped. Karmad police rushed Pooja to government medical college and hospital (GMCH), where she was declared dead. Sub-divisional police officer Pooja Nangare, police inspector Samratsingh Rajput, and team conducted the panchnama. The accused fled towards Kachner via the Pimpriraja route but was chased and arrested within two hours by Dadasaheb Dhawale and Sopan Dakale from the Kachner area.

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Background

Pooja married Sudam Gawande in 2017; he died by suicide on January 12, 2023. She married Satyam Gawande on November 15, 2025, at an Arya Samaj institution in Alandi, Pune. She had a son and daughter from her first marriage. After briefly living in Kumbhephal, she shifted to Karmad about one-and-a-half months ago following disputes with Satyam.

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Friend breaks down at the scene

Pooja’s friend Chhaya Wange broke down at the scene, stating that although Pooja married Satyam in November at Alandi, they had recently executed a mutual bond for divorce. She had lodged a complaint against him three months ago and had again visited Karmad police station on Tuesday from 5 pm to 9 pm to file another complaint. Her friend alleged that timely police action could have saved Pooja’s life, adding that she was to attend her birthday celebration that day.