Pune: Mangaon Murder Accused Escapes, Pune Police Launch Massive Manhunt
Pune, 17th January 2025: In a serious lapse that has put the police under scrutiny, one of the accused in the sensational Mangaon murder case escaped from police custody during a search operation at his residence on Sinhagad Road on Tuesday evening, prompting an extensive manhunt across Pune and nearby regions.
The escape took place around 6.30 pm when a team from Mangaon Police Station in Raigad district had brought the accused to Pune to conduct a house search as part of the investigation into the murder of a 22-year-old youth. The accused, identified as Aniket Mahesh Waghmare (26), is a resident of Laxmi Vihar Apartment near Rokdoba Temple in Hingane Khurd.
Assistant Police Inspector Shrikant Kirwale of Mangaon Police Station subsequently lodged a complaint at the Sinhagad Road Police Station, which falls under the Pune City Police Commissionerate.
Police officials said Waghmare had been arrested along with another accused, Tushar alias Sonya Sharad Patole (24) of Karve Nagar, for their alleged involvement in the murder of Aditya Ganesh Bhagat (22), a resident of Bhosari. Bhagat, originally hailing from Chobhe Pimpri village in Solapur district, was allegedly taken to Mahabaleshwar by his associates before being murdered in the Tamhini Ghat area of Raigad district.
Following their arrest by Pune Police, both accused were handed over to Mangaon Police for further investigation. During the course of the probe, Waghmare was taken to his Hingane Khurd residence for a search, during which police seized a mobile phone. While the panchnama process was underway, Waghmare, who was sitting inside the flat, allegedly exploited a brief lapse in police vigilance, pushed a police constable and fled from the premises.
Despite an immediate chase, the accused managed to escape and remained untraceable till the filing of this report.
A separate offence has been registered at the Sinhagad Road Police Station in connection with the escape. Police Inspector Ulhas Kadam said multiple teams have been deployed to track down the absconding accused. “Search operations are underway at various locations, and the accused will be arrested soon,” he said.
Investigations into both the murder case and the custodial escape are continuing.
