Armyman's Bail Denied in 'Drishyam' Murder Case

The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has denied bail to an Army personnel accused of murdering his girlfriend in a meticulously planned crime. The court referred to the case as "Drishyam-style," highlighting the calculated efforts to conceal the murder.

The prosecution successfully argued that a compelling chain of circumstantial evidence, including a switched-off mobile phone and the victim's body found buried and cemented, was sufficient to deny bail at this stage. The court emphasized that "circumstances never lie."

The victim disappeared on August 28, 2024, telling her family she was visiting a friend. After three weeks without contact, a missing person report led to an kidnapping FIR. Investigators alleged the accused, serving in Nagaland, traveled to Nagpur secretly, using his mother's phone while leaving his own behind to avoid tracking.

Evidence presented included call detail records and a friend's statement confirming the victim was meeting the accused. The defense claimed the accused's mother had answered his phone, stating he was asleep. The court noted this maneuver was likely intended to facilitate the murder and evade surveillance.

Further complicating the case, police alleged the accused disposed of the victim's phone by tossing it into a truck bound for Hyderabad, a tactic reminiscent of the film 'Drishyam.' The phone was later recovered from the truck driver in Telangana. The accused allegedly led investigators to an isolated location where the victim's decomposed body was found buried in a pit, sealed with cement. A stone matching the fatal head injuries was also recovered.