Thane: The Thane Crime Branch’s Property Cell arrested two Gujarat residents and another woman for the brutal murder of Mahesh Nakhwa, who was stabbed to death on Jan 28, 2026. The case was registered at Thane Nagar police station. The accused were identified as Kali alias Raghu Chauhan (27) and Shayar Mangroliya (21), while Chauhan’s girlfriend, Gita Mali, was also arrested for her alleged role in the crime. Police said CCTV footage from the vicinity of the crime scene and nearby lanes provided the first crucial lead. Cameras captured the accused fleeing shortly after the attack, and further footage along the suspected escape route helped investigators trace their movements. The visuals were corroborated with technical surveillance and mobile data analysis to establish the sequence of events.Based on these inputs, the crime branch tracked the duo to a roadside dhaba in Naigaon East, where they were intercepted while allegedly attempting to flee to Gujarat. During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to the murder, claiming they attacked Nakhwa after he repeatedly harassed Chauhan’s girlfriend. Acting on their disclosure, the police also arrested Mali.Officials said the murder appeared to be premeditated, with the accused allegedly confronting Nakhwa before stabbing him. Further investigation is underway to verify the claims made by the accused, reconstruct the crime, and ascertain the precise role of each person involved.
