By Sagaya Fernando | September 15, 2026
Pune, Maharashtra, INDIA: A 30-year-old pregnant woman was allegedly sexually assaulted, murdered and robbed of her gold jewellery at her home in Pandare village in Baramati taluka of Pune district, with police arresting a 26-year-old man in connection with the crime.
The victim has been identified as Vaishali Pawar, while the accused has been identified by police as Ganesh Ramchandra Mane (26), a resident of Pandare.
According to police, Vaishali was found critically injured and lying in a pool of blood inside a room at her home on Saturday, September 12, evening. Relatives and neighbours rushed her to hospital, where she was declared dead.
The case was registered at Malegaon Police Station following a complaint lodged by Vaishali's mother-in-law, Ranjana Laxman Pawar (50), police said.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer Chaitanya Kadam said a police team under the guidance of Assistant Police Inspector Kuldeep Sankpal reached the scene and launched an investigation.
During an examination of the crime scene and subsequent inquiries, investigators gathered information that led them to suspect Mane. He was detained and questioned in connection with the killing.
Police allege that Mane had entered the house intending to commit theft when Vaishali was alone. He allegedly attacked her with a hammer, causing serious injuries to her head, neck and other parts of her body.
Investigators said the accused then allegedly sexually assaulted the woman while she was injured. When she resisted, he allegedly strangled her with a towel, killing her.
Police said the accused allegedly told investigators that he killed Vaishali because he feared she would identify him and reveal his involvement in the attack.
After the killing, Mane allegedly removed gold jewellery from the victim, including a necklace and anklets, before fleeing the house, police said.
Investigators said the stolen jewellery and a hammer suspected to have been used in the attack were subsequently recovered from the accused.
The case was initially registered as a murder against an unidentified person. Police said relevant offences relating to sexual assault and robbery were subsequently added as evidence emerged during the investigation.
Mane was produced before a court, which remanded him in police custody until September 16 as investigators continue to probe the circumstances surrounding the crime.
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