Pune, 9th November 2025: In a chilling case reminiscent of the film Drishyam, a man allegedly strangled his wife to death over suspicions of an extramarital affair and went to the extent of destroying all evidence before reporting her missing to the police. The shocking crime came to light after the Warje Malwadi Police conducted a detailed investigation, uncovering the gruesome truth behind the staged disappearance.
At the Warje Malwadi Police Station, Sameer Punjabrao Jadhav, 42, a resident of Shivne, Pune, filed a complaint on October 28, claiming his 38-year-old wife, Anjali, had gone missing. He reported that she disappeared near the bus stand by Warje Bridge on October 26. What initially appeared to be a routine missing person case quickly raised red flags as investigators noted inconsistencies in Jadhav’s statements and behaviour.
Under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Sambhaji Kadam, a team led by Senior Police Inspector Vishwajeet Kaingade, along with Police Sub-Inspectors Sanjay Narale and Nitin Gaikwad, launched a meticulous investigation. They reviewed CCTV footage and Jadhav’s movements. Discrepancies in his account soon prompted a deeper investigation, leading to the shocking revelation.
How the Crime Unfolded
During intense questioning, Sameer Jadhav finally broke down and confessed to the chilling murder. He told police he suspected his wife, Anjali, of having an affair and that repeated arguments over messages on her phone had driven him to a deadly decision. “Realizing she wouldn’t change, I decided to get rid of her,” he admitted.
Jadhav meticulously planned the crime. He rented a warehouse in Shindewadi (Gogalwadi Phata) for ₹18,000, assembled an iron box, and stocked it with sacks of wood in preparation for the murder.
On October 26, he took Anjali out for a drive, passing Navale Bridge, Khedshivapur, and the Mari Aai Ghat area. On the way back, he stopped at the Shindewadi warehouse under the pretense of having a snack. While the couple sat on a mat eating bhel, Jadhav suddenly strangled Anjali to death. He then placed her body in the iron box, doused it with petrol, and set it ablaze. To cover his tracks, he scattered the ashes in a riverbed and later sold the box as scrap metal.
Case Registered and Investigation Underway
A case has been filed against Sameer Punjabrao Jadhav under IPC Section 103, following a complaint by PSI Gaikwad. The investigation has been transferred to Rajgad Police Station and is being conducted under the supervision of DCP Sambhaji Kadam and ACP Bhausaheb Patare, with a team of senior officers and personnel leading the operation.