A 38-year-old man, earlier acquitted in the murder of his eight-year-old daughter, has now been arrested in connection with another killing in Raigad district. Police allege that he murdered his 21-year-old girlfriend at a lodge in Lonere. The accused, identified as Anis Mohammad Khan Maldar, hails from Talavade village in Lanja taluka of Ratnagiri district. He was apprehended from Thane after an extensive and coordinated search operation conducted by Raigad police. Authorities have registered a case against him at Goregaon police station under Sections 103(1) and 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
The crime surfaced on the afternoon of April 20 when the body of a 21-year-old woman was discovered at Omkar Lodge in Lonere, situated along the busy Mumbai–Goa Highway in Mangaon taluka. According to investigators, the victim was found in a severely injured condition, with multiple wounds inflicted using a sickle, particularly on her head and wrists. Police officials stated that the woman was found unclothed, indicating the brutality of the attack. The discovery of the body triggered immediate police action, and officers began gathering evidence from the scene to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the murder.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Maldar had checked into the lodge alone on April 19 after submitting a photocopy of his Aadhaar card as identification. The following morning, the victim reportedly arrived at the lodge to meet him. The crime came to light only after the accused vacated the room, raising suspicion among the housekeeping staff. Upon entering the room, staff members found the woman’s lifeless body and promptly alerted the police. Investigators believe that the murder took place shortly before the accused checked out, allowing him to flee before authorities were notified.
After committing the crime, Maldar reportedly went into hiding, prompting police to launch an intensive manhunt. Under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Anchal Dalal and Additional SP Abhijit Shivthare, multiple teams from the Local Crime Branch, led by Police Inspector Milind Khopade, were deployed to track him down. Using technical surveillance and intelligence gathered from informants, police traced his location to Thane. He was eventually found staying in a dormitory, where he had been hiding for several days, and was taken into custody without incident.
Police officials further revealed that Maldar has a criminal past. In 2021, a case was registered against him at Mumbra police station for allegedly kidnapping and murdering his minor daughter. However, he was acquitted in that case due to insufficient evidence to establish the charges in court. The acquittal was granted in October 2024. Authorities are now examining whether there are any links between his past and present cases, as well as trying to understand his behavioral pattern and possible motives behind the recent crime.
Investigators stated that the motive behind the murder of the 21-year-old woman is still under investigation, and several angles are being explored. Police have sought his custody for five days to facilitate detailed questioning and gather more information about the circumstances surrounding the incident. The probe is currently being led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer Shankar Kale of the Mahad division, who is overseeing all aspects of the investigation. Officials have assured that further details will emerge as the inquiry progresses and more evidence is collected.