Mumbai: A Navi Mumbai police probe has revealed that Thane (rural) police inspector, Abhay Kurundkar, who was recently arrested for his suspected role in a case related to the disappearance of his alleged live-in partner API Ashwini Bidre, had visited the Bhayandar creek several times last year over a period of a few months and used to speak to some fishermen, said police sources. Officials suspect that Kurundkar killed Bidre in 2016 and threw her body into the creek. They are investigating the fishermen and trying to gather evidence against Kurundkar.
According to sources, Kurundkar is not answering the investigating team’s questions and is holding on to his claim that he doesn’t know Bidre’s whereabouts. Recently, an investigating team visited the creek, where it met some fishermen and took down their statements. They received information that the accused would often visit the creek and tell the fishermen to inform him if they found any body.
Sources said, “The fishermen were taking it casually but after Kurundkar’s arrest, they have informed the probe team about his activities. There is a possibility that Kurundkar had thrown Ashwini’s body into the creek.”
Earlier, the Navi Mumbai police had found a letter written by Bidre to Kurundkar saying, “May your wish to kill me by breaking my bones come true.” Bidre has been missing since April last year. Ten days ago, the police had arrested Kurundkar over suspicion of his role in her disappearance.
According to the police, Bidre and Kurundkar were in a live-in relationship and her disappearance could be linked to a dispute between them. Police have also taken blood samples of Bidre’s daughter and sent them to a forensic lab to find if they match with the samples found on the wet towel, which was found at Kurundkar’s Bhayander house in early 2017, when investigation into the case had just begun. The police is also in possession of a video where Kurundkar can be seen thrashing Bidre.
