Class 10 student kills education society director after being scolded for trespass; steals phone, ring

KOLHAPUR: The Sangli police on Sunday claimed to have cracked the mystery behind the death of Sanjay Prabhakar Paranjape (60), the director of an education society in Palus town of Sangli district, following the detention of a 16-year-old boy and his admission that he killed the victim on March 18 because he was reprimanded for trespass.

"The boy wrote his final paper for the Standard X board exam on March 18, the day of the murder," said inspector Siddheshwar Jangam of the Palus police. The Juvenile Justice Board transferred the minor accused to a juvenile reform home on Saturday.

The victim's son found Paranjape (60 ) murdered around 8.30pm on March 18 in a compartment under the staircase of their apartment. He had come down looking for his father because the family was waiting for dinner. During investigation, the police examined footage of CCTV cameras in and around the apartment and spotted the boy.

The police found that the boy resided near the apartment where Paranjape stayed. He would jump over the society's gate to take a short cut to his house and the main road. Paranjape, also a registered private money lender, would often scold him for his act.

Paranjape spotted the boy jumping over the society's gate on March 18 evening while returning from a temple and scolded him. The police said the boy pushed him hard against the wall and Paranjape suffered a head injury.

"The boy, fearing that Paranjape would tell others about the attack, picked up a sharp object lying nearby and stabbed the victim, leading to his death. The boy then hid the body in the apartment's compartment. He took away Paranjape's ring and cellphone," said inspector Jangam of the Palus police.

Paranjape's family demanded that the police should continue with the investigation from all angles. They told the police that the deceased was calm and would never hurt anyone even with his words. Therefore, they said, the boy's anger over being scolded for trespass could be a superficial motive and the police should find the ulterior motive of the killing.

Paranjape's elder brother, Uday, is the chairman of a education society which runs a school in the town.