The crime unfolded at around 9:30 am in Sanchar Society, Kopri, where Paranjpe lived. According to Dhumal, the victim had been blackmailing his friend using inappropriate photos. He had allegedly taken the photos, after drugging her. Dhumal and his friend turned themselves in shortly after the murder, confessing to the crime. They were arrested by the police.

The backstory reveals a disturbing sequence of events. The woman, a resident of Chendani Koliwada in Thane West, first met Paranjpe at a wedding in April 2024. What began as a friendship soon took a sinister turn when Paranjpe allegedly drugged her during a drive, took non-consensual photos and used these to blackmail her for sexual favors. The woman, distressed by the harassment, confided in Dhumal, an old friend from college.

According to the police, Dhumal confronted Paranjpe at his residence, demanding he delete the photos. When Paranjpe refused, a heated argument turned violent. Armed with a sickle, Dhumal attacked Paranjpe, inflicting fatal injuries to his head and body. “The 33-year-old died on the spot due to excessive blood loss,” said a police officer who responded to the scene.

An officer from Kopri police station added that the pair had initially planned the confrontation for Thursday night but delayed it when Paranjpe wasn’t home. After the brutal attack on Friday morning, they walked into the police station to report their crime, expressing no remorse. The police recovered the sickle and other evidence, and forensic teams were dispatched to examine the crime scene.

Authorities are still verifying the woman’s account, and investigations into the alleged blackmail and the events leading up to the murder are ongoing.