More than a year after a woman’s body was found in a stream in Maharashtra’s Thane district, police have solved the case. Investigators revealed that the victim, 23-year-old Mansi Bhoir, was killed by her boyfriend, who pushed her off a bridge after she rejected his sexual advances.

Bhoir had gone missing in November 2023, and her disappearance remained unsolved for several months. However, through a breakthrough in the investigation, the police identified the victim and arrested two accomplices of the main accused, Adil Sheikh, who is already in jail on a separate charge of attempted murder.

The case started when Bhoir’s family reported her missing. Soon after, her body was discovered in the Kalwa stream, prompting the police to file an accidental death report (ADR) and start an investigation. Despite efforts, the case stalled as the identity of the victim remained unknown and there were no significant leads, said Senior Inspector Gorkhnath Garge.

The breakthrough came when investigators, while working on another murder case, discovered a link to Bhoir’s case. Her body was eventually identified thanks to a tattoo and other distinguishing features, with her sister playing a crucial role in confirming her identity.

After this, investigators examined Bhoir’s call records, which led them to Sheikh, who had been in frequent contact with her before her disappearance. It was revealed that Sheikh was near the Kalwa stream on the night of November 4 when Bhoir’s body was discovered. According to the police, the two had arranged to meet that evening near the Majiwada-Kalwa bridge.

The investigation found that when Bhoir rejected Sheikh’s sexual advances during their meeting, he became enraged and pushed her off the bridge. Bhoir got stuck on a pole and fell unconscious. Sheikh then called two accomplices, Mehboob Makdum Ali Sheikh (28) and Roopesh Shivkumar Yadav (23), a rickshaw driver, for help. Together, the three pushed Bhoir into the water, where she drowned and was swept away by the current. Her body was later discovered several kilometers downstream.

The police have since arrested Mehboob Sheikh and Yadav. The main accused, Adil Sheikh, is already behind bars on charges of attempted murder. The police revealed that Sheikh has a long criminal history with several cases pending against him.

On Sunday, a formal case was filed against the three suspects under sections 302 (murder), 201 (destruction of evidence) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.