Pune: Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Brutal Murder of Wife
Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 1st April 2024: Bhalchandra Girappa Surve, a 37-year-old resident of Achegaon, taluka Dakshin Solapur, district Solapur, has been sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 15,000 for the brutal murder of his wife, Archana Surve, aged 28. The verdict was handed down by Additional Sessions Judge B. P. Kshirsagar.
The incident took place on July 28, 2019, around eleven in the morning, in Ashok Nagar, Uruli Devachi. Archana’s father, Datta Baburao Bagde, lodged a complaint at Loni Kalbhor police station, detailing the gruesome crime.
Archana and Bhalchandra had been married since 2008 and were parents to two sons. However, marital discord led Archana to seek refuge with her parents in Uruli Devachi in January 2018. On the fateful day, Archana was alone at home when Bhalchandra arrived.
Driven by suspicion, Bhalchandra viciously attacked Archana, stabbing her face, head, and neck a shocking 37 times with a knife and a chopper. Her parents discovered her lifeless body upon returning home, lying in a pool of blood at the door.
Assistant Police Inspector Swapnil Lokhande conducted a thorough investigation, leading to the arrest of Bhalchandra. Public prosecutor Rajesh Kavedia, handling the case, meticulously presented evidence from 12 witnesses, including crucial testimonies from Archana’s brother and a neighbor who witnessed the horrific crime.
At the crime scene, investigators recovered the weapons used in the heinous act, along with traces of the victim’s blood on Bhalchandra’s clothing. Building a strong case, public prosecutor Kavedia argued for stringent punishment, emphasizing the need for justice without leniency.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Inspector Shashikant Chavan, along with constables Lalita Kanwade and Manik Galakate, provided valuable assistance, ensuring a thorough and fair trial.
