Cryptic code in suicide note leads to discovery of teen’s body

By Sagaya Fernando | 15 May 2025 

Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra- In a chilling crime that left investigators grappling with a cryptic clue, Navi Mumbai Police uncovered the body of a 19-year-old college student weeks after her ex-boyfriend allegedly murdered her and died by suicide. The breakthrough came after authorities deciphered a puzzling alphanumeric code — ‘L01-501’ — found in the suicide note of the accused.

 

On 12 December 2023, police received a missing person report for Vaishnavi Babar, a student at SIES College. The same day, officers discovered the body of 24-year-old Vaibhav Burungale near Kharghar, along with a suicide note on his mobile phone confessing to killing Babar. However, her body remained missing, with the only lead being the mysterious code.

 

According to police investigations, Babar had recently ended her relationship with Burungale, reportedly due to family opposition stemming from caste differences. Suspecting she was involved with another man, Burungale allegedly strangled her using a zip tag and disposed of her body before taking his own life.

 

For nearly a month, search operations, including the use of drones and support from volunteer rescuers in Lonavala, fire brigade units, and the forest department, failed to yield any results. It was only after consulting the forest department that investigators identified the code ‘L01-501’ as a tree census marker.

 

The code led police to a dumping ground in the Kalamboli area, roughly six kilometres from Kharghar. There, Babar’s decomposed body was found hidden in thick bushes. Identification was confirmed through her college ID card, wristwatch, and clothing.

 

Following the discovery, a murder case was registered against Burungale. As the accused was deceased, police submitted an abated summary report in accordance with legal procedures.

This case has spotlighted the challenges of decoding digital and environmental clues in modern investigations, as well as the continued societal pressures that can lead to tragic outcomes.