Man, father-in-law arrested for neighbour's murder in Maval

Pune: A farmer (42) and his father-in-law were arrested on Wednesday on the charge of hacking the former's neighbour to death on Tuesday evening at Ambewadi in Kanhe village of Maval taluka, about 45 km from the city.

The Wadgaon Maval police identified the deceased as Vaibhav Satkar (28). The police have also detained the farmer's minor son in connection with the murder. "Satkar's murder was the fallout of a suspicion over an illicit relationship," said Shitalkumar Doijad, assistant police inspector of the Wadgaon Maval police.

Doijad said Satkar was murdered around 6pm, when he went to his cowshed. "The farmer was also a distant relative of the deceased. The farmer's minor son and father-in-law attacked Satkar with a sharp weapon. Satkar died on the spot after receiving severe blows to his face, head and back," Doijad said.

He said the trio fled after the murder. "We zeroed in on them later in the night," he said.

Doijad said father of the deceased, in his complaint, stated that his neighbour — the arrested farmer who also works at a private firm — suspected Satkar of having an illicit relationship with a woman. They had earlier beaten up Satkar in 2018 and even threatened him of dire consequences. At the time, other relatives settled the issue and no police complaint was lodged.

"Satkar's father stated in his complaint that their neighbour abused and threatened Satkar since then," Doijad said.