Maha plans to dismiss cop in Navi Mumbai API murder case: Min

The Maharashtra government will check the police service manual before taking a decision on dismissing Police Inspector Abhay Kurundkar from service for his alleged role in the murder of Navi Mumbai Assistant Police Inspector Ashwini Bidre-Gore, Minister of State for Home (Urban) Ranjit Patil told the Legislative Council today.

Patil was replying to supplementary queries on a calling attention motion moved by the NCP's Hemant Takle and others.

He informed the House that Kurundkar was presently under suspension and the state government had written to the Centre to withdraw the President's Police Medal that was awarded to the suspended officer last year.

"Kurundkar, using the mobile of deceased Ashwini Bidre-Gore, sent false Whatsapp messages to her relatives that she was going for a four month Vipassana course and so would not be available for that duration," he said.

He added that after receiving Call Detail Records (CDR) and the arrest of Kurundkar's childhood friend Mahesh Phalnikar, the entire plot was revealed.

Kurundkar was arrested on December 7 last year.

"Phalnikar has revealed that a saw, used to cut wood, was deployed to cut up Bidre-Gore's body. After storing it in a refrigerator for some time, the body parts were dumped in Bhayander creek by tying five kilogram weights to it," Patil said.

He said that the Crime Branch was investigating the case and the help of the Navy was sought to retrieve Bidre-Gore's mortal remains from Bhayander creek.

Replying to further queries, Patil disclosed that besides the CDR, police had collected blood stain samples and confiscated 38 other items which had been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for investigation.

Vikram Kale (NCP) demanded that Kurundkar be dismissed from service.

Responding to him, the minister said, "We are checking the police service manual to dismiss him from service."