'Skull smashed, stripped naked: TV crime shows inspired engineering students to kill Maharashtra man

NAGPUR: Three second-year engineering students, who were arrested for killing a 44-year-old intoxicated man after offering him help, allegedly confessed to committing the crime in a premeditated attack inspired by crime-based television serials. Their strategy involved eliminating all possible means of identification, said police.

Police said the accused, Aryan Shende (22), Rishabh Kamble (20), and Anuj Waghmare (19), admitted that they meticulously planned the murder to make it appear as an unsolved mystery. The trio had smashed the skull of the victim, Suchit Bhojapure, with rocks, stripped him naked and dumped the body in a secluded area near a crematorium, said police.

Investigators revealed that the accused had closely observed crime serials to learn methods of destroying evidence, concealing bodies, and evading law enforcement. Aryan Shende initially attempted to mislead police, but bloodstains on his shoes proved crucial in unravelling the case, said police. He was apprehended from his college campus, leading to the arrest of the other two.

"We were shocked by their cold, calculated cover-up. They removed the victim's wallet, phones and clothing, ensuring there was nothing to trace back. One of them even suggested disfigurement, saying ‘no face means no recognition'," said a senior police officer.

According to police, the incident occurred on April 2 when the trio spotted Bhojapure in an inebriated state inside his car near the Wardhaman Nagar flyover. Posing as Good Samaritans, they offered to drop him home. During the drive, Anuj contacted Bhojapure's wife, who reportedly refused to take him back in his inebriated condition.

Sensing an opportunity, the trio allegedly decided to rob him of his car and expensive mobile phones. They diverted the vehicle towards Khadgaon Road, where they forcibly dragged Bhojapure out and murdered him near a crematorium on Khadgaon Road.

The trio has been remanded in custody till May 7 and booked on charges of murder. Police officials noted with concern the disturbing influence of crime-based television content, with one of the accused reportedly being an avid viewer.