Londhe murder case: probe widens; four with financial links questioned

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Police have intensified the investigation into the murder of retired professor Rajaram Londhe, questioning four individuals with alleged financial links to the victim, even as fresh statements and new angles are being examined.

The accused, Karan Ade (Girner Tanda), who allegedly assisted in disposing of the body “out of friendship” using a shovel and pan, has been remanded in police custody till March 22 after a court granted an extension of three days on Thursday. In parallel, a police team led by assistant commissioner of police Ashok Rajput and senior police inspector Gajanan Kalyankar conducted a search at the residence of the main accused, Vishal Rathod (24), and seized a car linked to the case. Investigators also revisited the crime scene to reconstruct the sequence of events. Rathod was questioned on possible additional motives, while four persons connected through financial transactions with Londhe were interrogated at the police commissionerate.

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Doubts over mobile destruction

Londhe’s mobile phone remains untraced. While Rathod claims he destroyed the device and threw it into a drain in Pune, police suspect the phone may have been taken by a third party. Efforts are underway to recover it.

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Multiple angles under investigation

Police suspect that the murder may involve motives beyond financial disputes. During interrogation, Ade reportedly stated that he was threatened by Rathod and forced to assist in disposing of the body after initially panicking. Authorities argued for extended custody for deeper questioning, which the court approved. So far, Osmanpura police have recorded statements of 13 individuals. Statements from Londhe’s family are expected to be recorded soon, which may provide further clarity on financial dealings and possible links with the accused. Ade works as a labourer.