2016 double murder case: Thane court sentences duo to life imprisonment

Thane: A sessions court in Thane has convicted two men for the brutal murder of an octogenarian and his caretaker in a case dating back to 2016, bringing closure after nearly a decade-long trial. Additional sessions judge G G Bhansali convicted Prashant Sadashiv Pawar and Atendra, and sentenced them to life imprisonment for murder. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh each and awarded additional rigorous imprisonment for offences of robbery and house trespass.According to the prosecution, the victims — Sitaram Vallabh Shroff (84) and his caretaker Santosh Raisingh Lavangare — were found murdered in their flat at Regency Heights on Ghodbunder Road on May 31, 2016. Both sustained multiple stab and incised injuries, pointing to a brutal assault. The case saw a breakthrough when CCTV footage captured Pawar — a former caretaker of Shroff — entering the building with Atendra. The court observed that although there were no eyewitnesses, the chain of circumstantial evidence was complete and conclusively established the role of both accused in the double murder.