Pune: Rickshaw Driver Arrested for Murder of Man Whose Body Was Found in Mulshi

Paud, 25th September 2025: The district rural police have arrested a rickshaw driver, Sachin Jadhav (41), in connection with the murder of a middle-aged man whose decomposed body was discovered on September 11 in Ghotawade village, Mulshi taluka. Jadhav, a resident of Dhankawdi, has 13 prior cases of robbery registered against him.

Investigations revealed that Jadhav bludgeoned the victim, Ashutosh Vaishampayan (47) of Subhashnagar, Pune, with a blunt object and slit his throat before leaving the body in Ghotawade. Vaishampayan, reportedly intoxicated at the time of the attack, was targeted for his bank funds.

“After killing the victim, Jadhav stole his debit card and withdrew Rs 4.45 lakh over the next few days. He reportedly used this money to repay a loan on his mini-truck,” said Santosh Girigosavi, Inspector at Paud police station.

During the probe, police recovered Vaishampayan’s Aadhaar card with the body, which led them to an address in Powai, Mumbai. The investigation revealed that Vaishampayan had traveled to Lucknow for work but had returned to Pune on September 4. “His family resides in Pune, and he had been previously employed in the HR department of an IT company but was currently unemployed,” said Dattaji Mohite, Assistant Inspector of the local crime branch.

Police also contacted Vaishampayan’s broker in Lucknow, who confirmed his departure to Pune. “CCTV footage from Pune station showed Vaishampayan wearing the same clothes found on the body,” Mohite added. Further investigation traced him taking an autorickshaw to Subhashnagar, visiting a bar, and then boarding another rickshaw before disappearing from CCTV coverage.

Paud police, along with the crime branch, identified the second rickshaw from CCTV footage and tracked the driver, who had a criminal history. “During our inquiry, we noted that Jadhav had not returned home for several days. After laying several traps, we apprehended him recently,” a police officer said.

Jadhav has admitted to the murder, explaining that he targeted Vaishampayan after noticing his bank withdrawals. “He is in police custody until September 25,” the officer confirmed.