Pune: Father Avenges Son’s Death by Killing Seven Family Members, Dumping Bodies in Bhima River

Pune, 6th May 2025: In a gruesome case of revenge, the Pune Rural Police have solved the mystery surrounding the deaths of seven members of a family whose bodies were found in the Bhima River and a well in January 2023. Investigations revealed that a relative, enraged over the accidental death of his son, orchestrated the mass murder.

The case unfolded after a series of unidentified bodies were recovered near Pargaon—beginning with a woman on January 18, followed by a man on January 20, and two more, including another woman, on January 22. A detailed probe confirmed that the deceased belonged to the same family from Nighoj in Parner taluka of Ahmednagar district.

The victims were identified as Mohan Uttam Pawar, his wife Sangeeta Mohan Pawar, their daughter Rani Fulware, son-in-law Shamrao Fulware, and three grandchildren—Ritesh, Chhotu, and Krishna. The family worked as daily wage laborers.

Revenge for Road Accident Sparks Mass Murder
Police said the killings were masterminded by Ashok Pawar, cousin of the deceased Mohan Pawar, who blamed Mohan’s family for the death of his son, Dhananjay Pawar, in a road accident in Wagholi. Driven by a deep sense of vengeance, Ashok allegedly plotted and executed the murders with the help of accomplices.

Initial rumors suggested occult involvement or black magic, but investigators soon ruled out those theories. Mobile phone call records and location tracking placed the victims’ devices in Nighoj and Pargaon on January 17 and 18. Sangeeta’s phone was later traced to Shirur, tightening the timeline and location of the crime.

Five Arrested, One Juvenile Detained
Based on the evidence, police arrested Ashok Pawar, Shyam Pawar, Shankar Pawar, Prakash Pawar, and Kantabai Jadhav. A juvenile involved in the crime was also detained and sent to a correctional home. The accused initially denied involvement, claiming they were home at the time, but could not account for the digital evidence against them.

Police concluded that the victims were strangled before their bodies were dumped in the Bhima River. A four-wheeler used to transport the bodies has been seized. Postmortems were conducted in the presence of the Daund tehsildar.

Trial Underway in Baramati Court
Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray confirmed that all seven victims were strangled before disposal. The case is currently being heard at the Baramati Sessions Court, with authorities hopeful of swift justice.

The brutal nature of the crime has sent shockwaves across the region. Police officials have commended the investigative team, led by ACP Rahul Dhas, for cracking a case that initially appeared to be a string of unrelated deaths.