Crime
Greed Turns Deadly: Mother-Son Duo Kills Farmer for Rs 1 Crore Insurance Payout
Sangli Police have arrested a mother, her son, and an accomplice for allegedly murdering a 56-year-old farmer to fraudulently claim his Rs 1 crore insurance payout, initially staging his death as an accident. The accused—Vanita Baburao Patil, her son Tejas Baburao Patil, and his friend Bhimrao Ganpatrao Hulwan, all from Shirdhon, Kavathe Mahankal—were taken into custody on March 1.
According to police, Tejas, a social media expert, and his mother pressured Baburao Patil, a debt-ridden farmer, to die by suicide due to mounting debts. When he hesitated, they allegedly murdered him. The crime took place between 2 am and 3 am on February 10 on the Miraj-Pandharpur highway near Landewadi. Baburao’s body was discovered near Hotel Arya, and his brother Sagar Patil rushed him to a government hospital, where his death was initially recorded as an accident. However, inconsistencies in Vanita and Tejas’ statements raised suspicions. “Telephonic records and CCTV footage placed them near the crime scene, contradicting their claim of being in Karad,” said Inspector Jyotiram Patil of Kavathe Mahankal police station.
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Upon interrogation, the accused confessed. Police revealed that Baburao had debts of Rs 50 lakh, including a home loan, and was harassed by lenders. When the bank issued an auction notice, Vanita and Tejas allegedly pressured him to take his own life for the insurance money.
Baburao had four insurance policies, including a Rs 1 crore term plan. Though he attempted suicide by stepping onto the highway, he couldn’t follow through. Frustrated, Tejas and Bhimrao followed him in a car, forcibly smashed his head against a road divider, and dumped his body to make it look like an accident. “Vanita was not present at the crime scene, but she masterminded the plan,” said Assistant Police Inspector Amol Shivsharan.
The three accused have been booked under Sections 103(1), 61(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).