THANE: Nearly a year after a 50-year-old Navi Mumbai resident went missing, police have arrested his wife and her alleged lover for allegedly murdering him, dismembering his body, and dumping the remains in a forest, officials said.
The victim, Baliram Suryanath Kushwaha, lived in Airoli with his wife Sunita (40) and their two children.
According to police, Sunita was allegedly involved in an extramarital relationship with Rahul Dashrath Prajapati (30), an autorickshaw driver. Investigators allege that after Baliram discovered the affair and opposed it, the two conspired to kill him.
Police said that on the night of August 9, 2025, after sending the couple’s children to a relative’s house, the accused allegedly strangled Baliram while he was asleep and then slit his throat.
Investigators allege the duo then dismembered the body into three parts, packed the remains in sacks, and transported them in Prajapati’s autorickshaw to the Gawli Dev hill forest, where the body parts were discarded at different locations in an attempt to destroy evidence.
Crime Uncovered Months Later
The alleged murder remained undiscovered until April this year, when Baliram’s brother became suspicious after receiving inconsistent explanations about his disappearance from Sunita. He subsequently filed a missing person’s complaint, prompting a police investigation.
According to investigators, Sunita allegedly rented out the family’s home after the incident and moved to Ghansoli with her children.
Police said the accused frequently changed their mobile phones and SIM cards to avoid detection. However, an analysis of Call Detail Records (CDRs) revealed continuous communication between the two, strengthening investigators’ suspicions.
During sustained interrogation, the pair allegedly confessed to the crime and disclosed where they had disposed of the body.
Arrest and Investigation
The two were arrested on Sunday and booked under Sections 103 (murder), 238 (destruction of evidence) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police said they have recovered some of Baliram’s remains from the Gawli Dev forest, while search operations are continuing to locate the remaining body parts.
The accused were produced before a local court, which remanded them to seven days of police custody for further investigation.
