Letter from missing cop to suspect found

Mumbai: Navi Mumbai’s Kalamboli police has found a letter written by API Ashwini Bidre, addressed to Thane (rural) police’s PI Abhay Kurundkar saying, “May your wish to kill me by breaking my bones come true.” Bidre has been traceless since April last year. The letter, which was never posted, was recovered by the police from her residence. One week ago, the police had arrested Kurundkar in the case over suspicion that he played a role in API Bidre’s disappearance.

According to the police, Bidre and Kurundkar were in a live-in relationship and her disappearance may be linked to a dispute between them. The police is also in possession of a video where Kurundkar can be seen thrashing Bidre. The police has also taken blood samples of Bidre’s daughter and sent them to a forensic lab to find out if they match with the blood samples found on the towel. The towel was found at Kurundkar’s Bhayander house in early 2017 when investigation had just started and later, because the investigation officer got transferred, nothing fruitful came out of it.

On Friday, the public prosecutor argued that Kurundkar’s police custody may be extended saying, “He is not cooperating with investigation officers and needs to be confronted with so many questions. Blood samples of Bidre’s daughter have been taken to check with those on the towel found at Kurundkar’s house. Also, in one of the letters written by Bidre to Kurundkar in Marathi, she has written, ‘May your wish come true to break my bones and kill me’”.

Kurundkar (52), who was arrested by Kalamboli police on December 8.