Rape-murder accused, absconding for 3 years, held by Crime Branch

His hide-and-seek with the police has finally come to an end. Ganesh alias Hanumant Dhondiba Nanaware (37), an accused in a rape-and-murder case who was a fugitive for the last three years, was arrested on Monday by Crime Branch sleuths., was arrested on Monday.

In the net: Ganesh alias Hanumant Dhondiba Nanaware (in green shirt) was picked up from Khadi machine chowk in Kondhwa

Nanaware - first arrested in April 2007 following the death of Rupali Chavan (24), a graphic designer with an IT company in Hinjewadi - had escaped from custody of police from Sassoon hospital in June 2010.

Primary investigation has revealed that after escaping from the hospital, the resident of Kavadewadi in Purandar taluka, was working as a truck driver in Chennai and used to frequently visit Mumbai and Kerala. "He used to operate as a substitute driver at nights, as he didn't have a valid driving license," said DCP (crime) Rajesh Bansode.

A team of inspector Arun Walture, constables Baba Shaikh, Manik Pawar, Ashok Atole, Laxman Shinde, Aqeel Shaikh, Sambhaji Wagh, Dinesh Shinde, Jaywant Jagtap, Arjun Bhambure, Deepak Kharat, Mohan Dongare, Ajay Kharade, Dnyaneshwar Bharati, Umesh Shirke and Ankush Jogdand nabbed Nanaware from Khadi machine chowk in Kondhwa. Commissioner of police Gulabrao Pol has announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for the group.

"We will investigate if there was any nexus between policemen on duty, doctors and Nanaware. Also, we will find out whether Nanaware has committed other crimes in Pune and Chennai," said DCP Bansode.

The case
Rupali Chavan was working as a graphic designer in anu00a0IT company in Hinjewadi. She was in the fifth month of her pregnancy when Nanaware allegedly abducted her onu00a0April 2, 2007 from Pune-Solapur Road. Nanaware was working with the same company as a cab driver and was acquainted with Rupali.

The accused had been dismissed from service a month before the incident. Nanaware got furious when Rupali turned down his advances, after which he allegedly accosted and forced her into the car. Rupali was strangled by Nanaware and he threw her body into Varandha ghat at Bhor. After Rupali went missing, her husband Santosh had lodged a compliant with Wanawadi police.

Nanaware was arrested on April 16, 2007 and remanded to judicial custody. He was taken to Sassoon hospital on June 12, 2010, and he escaped after requesting the police personnel on duty to remove the handcuffs, as he wanted to have a drink of water. Charges have been framed against him and the trial is pending in the court of additional sessions judge R H Mohammad. Nanaware's friend Pramod Takale has turned approver in this case.