Pune: Rajgurunagar Man Sentenced to Life for Brutal Murder on Moving Bus Six Years Ago
Rajgurunagar, 10th February 2025: A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for a gruesome murder committed on a moving bus in Rajgurunagar-Khed over six years ago. The District and Sessions Judge S.P. Pol delivered the verdict in this sensitive case, accepting the arguments presented by Special Public Prosecutor Sagar Kothari.
The convict, Ajit Bhagwan Kanhurkar (40) from Dawadi, was found guilty of murdering his cousin Shrinath Khese on 12th June 2018. The crime was motivated by Kanhurkar’s unrequited love for Khese’s elder sister and his desire to “end his maternal uncle’s family line.”
According to the prosecution, Kanhurkar had been harassing his cousin’s family due to his one-sided affection, leading to multiple police complaints against him. On the day of the incident, he boarded the school bus that Khese usually took, lying in wait. When Khese boarded the bus at 7:20 AM, Kanhurkar attacked him with a koyta, striking his head 18 times in front of Khese’s sister. The victim died on the spot due to severe brain injuries.
The case gained significant attention, resulting in a two-day shutdown of the entire village and the suspension of two police officers. Additionally, key identification parade documents were reported missing, further complicating the case.
Special Public Prosecutor Kothari, appointed in 2020, along with Assistant Advocates Narayan Pandit and Vinaya Jaganade, examined 16 witnesses. The bus conductor and the victim’s younger sister provided crucial eyewitness testimonies. The investigation was led by Police Inspectors Arvind Chaudhary and Pradeep Jadhav, with court proceedings assisted by police personnel Vijay Chaudhary and Kharat.
On 7th February 2025, the court found Kanhurkar guilty. While the prosecution sought the death penalty, Judge Pol, after considering all legal aspects, sentenced Kanhurkar to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 Lakh today.
