Ashwini Bidre murder case: Nine years later, API’s killer gets life term

The Panvel Sessions Court on Monday sentenced former Police Inspector Abhay Tukaram Kurundkar to life imprisonment in the murder of Assistant Police Inspector Ashwini Bidre, bringing closure to a case that shocked Maharashtra’s law enforcement circles. Bidre, who went missing under mysterious circumstances in 2016, was later confirmed to have been murdered.

The court held that Kurundkar, with whom Bidre had been in a personal relationship, killed her and disposed of her body with the help of his ‘associates’, who are co-accused in the case. The motive, as revealed during the investigation, was rooted in betrayal—Kurundkar had allegedly promised to marry Bidre but failed to honour his commitment, which led to her pressurising him.

Assistant Police Inspector Ashwini Bidre, who was murdered by Abhay Tukaram Kurundkar (right) Abhay Tukaram Kurundkar, the prime accused (left) in police custody. Pic/By special Arrangement

Kurundkar’s driver, Kundan Bhandari, and a close friend, Mahesh Phalnikar, were sentenced to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment each under Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code for their roles in destroying evidence. The court also imposed fines of Rs 25,000 on each of them. A fourth accused, Raju Patil, was acquitted due to lack of evidence.

Judge K G Paldewar referred to the case as the ‘rarest-of-the-rare case’, given its “cruel and inhuman” nature, linked to the accused. It noted that the murder was not a spontaneous crime but a premeditated one. He acknowledged that Bidre’s family, her father and daughter, were the ‘true victims’ in this crime as they lost their loved one due to the brutal actions of a colleague.

Bidre’s body was never recovered. The court said this fact made the offence “more serious,” as the deliberate disposal of the body was aimed at erasing any trace of the crime. The judgment also noted that the accused had abused their positions as police officers, which further intensified the gravity of their actions. “The accused, being in a responsible post as a police officer, instead of protecting a lady police officer (sic)… committed a heinous crime,” the court observed.

The verdict came after a prolonged seven-year trial that saw delays, numerous witness testimonies, and forensic analysis. The prosecution’s case hinged on circumstantial evidence, including call detail records and the testimony of those close to Bidre and Kurundkar.

The court criticised the police for their “passive behaviour” in connection with the case. This included delays in registering the murder case and hampering the investigation in its preliminary stages, which were crucial to collect important evidence. The court demanded disciplinary action against police officers who were part of the investigating team.

Dubious distinction

Given that the primary accused in the case was a police officer, the court raised serious concerns about the integrity of the police department. Despite being under suspension in connection with the murder case, Kurundkar was awarded the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service in 2017. “The award was given to him on Republic Day, and he was arrested on December 7 the same year, while serving as an inspector with the Thane Rural Police,” said an official involved with the murder case. Judge Paldewar recommended that the authorities concerned conduct an inquiry into the awarding of the medal and examine the officers who approved his nomination. “The accused was already suspended in a serious criminal case—the murder of a colleague who was also a police officer—yet he was conferred such a prestigious honour,” the court observed.

Case background

On April 11, 2016, Bidre was last seen leaving her office in Thane. Three days later, her brother-in-law received a WhatsApp message from her number, claiming she had travelled to North India for mental health treatment. Investigators, however, found discrepancies in the message’s language, raising suspicions about Kurundkar, with whom Bidre was in a relationship.

Police investigations revealed that Kurundkar had promised to marry Bidre, but their relationship was strained by frequent arguments and alleged abuse. In one message, Bidre accused him of causing her personal loss. Further probe suggested that, frustrated by her demands, Kurundkar allegedly murdered Bidre and sought help from his associates to dispose of her body. Phalnikar initially confessed they dismembered her body, placed the remains in gunny bags with iron weights, and dumped them in Vasai Creek—though he later retracted his statement.

In March 2019, Patil sought discharge from the case at the Alibaug court, but his plea was rejected based on GPS data and witness statements placing him with Kurundkar at the time of the crime. Despite search operations worth over R20 lakh, police failed to recover any remains. The charge sheet was based largely on circumstantial, technical, digital and witness evidence.