November 22nd 2025.
A significant breakthrough was achieved by the Raigad district police in Navi Mumbai on November 22nd. After 24 years of being on the run, the Neral Police were able to arrest Santosh Ganpat Rane, the main suspect in a murder case. This incident dates back to the year 2001, when Santosh, hailing from Pohi village in Karjat taluka, was accused of murdering his sister-in-law who was nine months pregnant at the time.
According to the police, Santosh had a history of disputes with his brother Anil and Anil's wife Gulab. On February 2nd, 2001, a heated argument between Santosh and his sister-in-law resulted in him attacking her with an axe. She was brutally killed on the spot, leaving her husband Anil to flee in fear for his own life. Santosh, on the other hand, escaped the village and went into hiding for over two decades.
Recently, Raigad Superintendent of Police Anchal Dalal ordered the Neral Police to intensify their search for the absconding accused. Acting on her instructions, the police team conducted a thorough investigation and gathered intelligence, leading them to discover that the suspect had changed his identity and was now living in Pune as Santosh Ganpat Patil, working as a caterer.
It took almost two months for the officials to get a lead on his whereabouts and finally apprehend him on Friday. API Shivaji Dhavale from Neral police station shared, "We received information that the accused had visited a relative in Neral recently. This gave us a starting point for our investigations." Despite the lack of cooperation from the accused's relatives, the police were able to track down a photo of him from 2001 and traced his location through call records.
A targeted operation was carried out by the Neral Police at Famous Chowk, Sangvi in Pune, where the accused was arrested. After living under the alias Santosh Patil for years, the suspect finally confessed to his real identity and admitted to committing the murder in 2001. It was also revealed that he had lived in Goa and even got married while on the run.
SP Dalal commended the efforts of the police team and stated, "This arrest is a testament to our determination in pursuing justice, no matter how long it takes." Along with this major breakthrough, the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch also busted a heroin racket in Vashi and seized drugs worth ₹1.35 crore. 1 person was arrested while 7 others are still at large.
Further investigations revealed that the accused had also briefly stayed in Goa before settling in Pune and getting married. Those looking for affordable properties in Mumbai and its surrounding regions can visit the website mentioned for exclusive deals.
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