Pune: Bodies of Man and Woman Found in Junnar’s Kokankada Gorge; Police Suspect Suicide

Junnar, 24th June 2025: A shocking incident has come to light in the remote tribal area of Durgawadi in Junnar taluka, where the bodies of a man and a young woman were recovered from the Kokankada valley, a steep gorge nearly 1,200 feet deep. Police suspect the two died by suicide, though the exact cause of death remains under investigation.

The deceased have been identified as Ramchandra Sahebrao Pardhi (40), a talathi from Shrigonda, and Rupali Santosh Khutan (approx. 20-22 years old), a college student from Amboli in Junnar. Both individuals had previously been reported missing. Pardhi’s wife had filed a missing complaint at the Topkhana Police Station, while Junnar Police were already investigating a case of abduction involving Rupali.

Local villagers became suspicious after noticing a white car parked near Kokankada for several days. Upon checking the edge of the cliff, they discovered footwear belonging to a man and a woman, prompting them to inform the police.

Rescue operations led by Junnar Police and a specialized rescue team were initially halted on June 22 due to heavy fog and rainfall. Efforts resumed the next morning, and the team successfully retrieved the bodies from the gorge. The deceased were sent to Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Rural Hospital for post-mortem examination.

According to police, Ramchandra Pardhi had recently been assigned election duties in the Ahilyanagar collectorate office but had not reported to work for several days. Investigators believe personal issues and suspected illicit relations may have played a role in the incident.