Pune: In a shocking incident, the murder of Amol Salunkhe, a 33-year-old businessman from Lingali village in Daund taluka, Pune district, has been linked to his business partner, Mahesh Kale.

The motive behind the crime is believed to be a business dispute, according to the preliminary findings of the Pune Rural Police.

Amol Salunkhe, who was involved in the sliding glass windows, doors, and painting business, had partnered with Mahesh Kale for the past three years. Together, they had reportedly made a profit of approximately ₹40 lakhs.

However, as the business expanded, Kale developed a misconception that Salunkhe intended to push him out of the partnership. Fueled by this suspicion, Kale took the drastic step of murdering his partner.

On the night of October 10, after drinking alcohol together in a secluded area, Kale allegedly attacked Salunkhe with a rod, fatally injuring him by striking his head. The murder occurred in the Lingali area, where Salunkhe’s body was later discovered.

Pune Rural Police immediately launched an investigation into the crime, with six teams assigned to the case. These teams included the Local Crime Branch, led by Inspector Avinash Shilimkar, and officers from the Daund Police.

In less than 18 hours, through the use of technical analysis and questioning of relevant individuals, the police identified Mahesh Kale, who was then arrested.

Additional Superintendent of Police Ganesh Biradar of the Baramati Division confirmed the arrest and praised the swift action of the police teams involved.

The investigation is still ongoing, with authorities probing the possibility of other individuals being involved in the crime. The complaint was filed by Tejashree Salunkhe, the wife of the deceased.