Reel Star ‘Lala’ Arrested for Murder of Retired Professor in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar; Body Buried in Forest

In a shocking incident from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a social media reel creator allegedly murdered a retired professor with the help of his associates and buried the body in a forest. The main accused, who is popular on social media as “Lala,” has been arrested along with two accomplices.

The deceased has been identified as 60-year-old retired professor Rajabhau Subhrao Londhe. According to police, the prime accused Vishal Rathod had allegedly planned the murder nearly one and a half months in advance. Police have also arrested his associates Akash Pawar and Karan Ade in connection with the case.

During the investigation, police found that the murder was allegedly linked to a financial dispute involving around ₹50 lakh. Investigators are also examining the case from the angle of a possible honey trap. Officials said the friendship between the 60-year-old professor and the 24-year-old accused Vishal was established through a woman. The role of this woman in the murder and the financial dispute is currently under detailed investigation.

Police said the accused executed the crime in a calculated manner. On February 3, Vishal allegedly lured locals in the Gevarai Tanda area with claims of discovering hidden treasure and got two pits, each about eight feet deep, dug in advance.

On February 5, the professor was invited out under the pretext of attending a party. Late at night, Vishal allegedly snatched the professor’s own gun and opened fire on him.

After the murder, the accused reportedly placed the body in the trunk of a car and drove around the city through the night. In the early hours of February 6, around 6 a.m., the body was buried in a forest. Later that morning, around 11 a.m., a JCB machine was called to fill the pit completely in order to erase evidence.

To mislead investigators, Vishal allegedly took the professor’s mobile phone and travelled to Pune on February 8. From there, he posted a status message in English that read: “I m in personal work – 20, 25 dont disturb,” creating the impression that the professor was safe and busy with personal work.

When the professor could not be contacted for several weeks, his family approached the police. On March 10, the relatives met the Police Commissioner and filed a missing person complaint.

Following sustained interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime on March 15, after which police excavated the site and recovered the buried body.

The main accused Vishal Rathod is widely known on social media as “Lala.” He has around 1.75 lakh followers on Instagram, where he regularly posted reels showcasing luxury cars and high-end smartphones.

On March 22, 2025, Rathod had also shared a video claiming he had purchased a luxury Jaguar car at the age of just 23.

Police are continuing the investigation to determine the full motive and the possible involvement of other individuals in the case.