Panvel Court sentences former inspector to life imprisonment

The Panvel Additional Sessions Court on Monday sentenced former police inspector Abhay Kurundkar to life imprisonment for the 2016 murder of Assistant Police Inspector Ashwini Bidre-Gore. Two of his associates, Kundan Bhandari and Mahesh Phalnikar, were sentenced to seven years in prison each for destroying evidence related to the case.

Bidre-Gore, who went missing in April 2016, was later confirmed to have been murdered. A prolonged investigation revealed that she had been in a personal relationship with Kurundkar, who had allegedly promised to marry her but later backed out. The case unveiled a disturbing narrative of betrayal and manipulation within the police force.

Kurundkar, a senior officer at the time, was found guilty of murdering Bidre and disposing of her body with the help of his associates. After a seven-year-long trial, the court convicted him of murder, while Bhandari and Phalnikar were held guilty under Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code for destruction of evidence. A fourth accused, Raju Patil, was acquitted due to lack of evidence.