Man arrested for allegedly strangling partner, staging death as suicide in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur

A 22-year-old man has been arrested in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, for allegedly murdering his partner and attempting to pass off the crime as a suicide as per reports.

The accused, Ankesh Yogesh Bahirwar, is alleged to have strangled Priyanka Wandhar, who was reportedly seven years older than him, using a mobile charger cable. The case came to light nearly 20 days after the incident, when a post-mortem examination confirmed that the death was a homicide.

According to police, the incident reportedly took place on the night of March 14 at around 8 pm but only surfaced on April 3 following the forensic report. Priyanka, who had been living separately from her husband, had entered into a relationship with Ankesh, and the couple had been residing together on the upper floor of her house.

Investigators said the relationship had recently been strained by frequent arguments, allegedly linked to controlling behaviour and restrictions on Ankesh’s contact with his family.

On the night of the incident, an argument reportedly escalated, during which Ankesh is accused of strangling Priyanka with a charger wire. He then allegedly contacted her father, claiming she had fallen unconscious and suggesting it could be a case of suicide. She was taken to hospital by family members, where doctors declared her dead.

Initially treated as a suspected suicide, the case took a turn after the post-mortem report confirmed strangulation. Police subsequently registered a case and launched a detailed investigation.

During questioning, the accused is said to have confessed to the crime. Officers have recovered the charger cable and an extension board believed to have been used in the murder.

An FIR has been filed, and further investigations are ongoing.