Maharashtra Serial Killer Who Murdered 2 Women Caught After 3rd Attempt Fails

Last Updated:July 28, 2025, 17:53 IST

Anil Govinda Sandanshiv was arrested in Jalgaon for murdering two women and trying to kill a third. He lured victims with romance, killed them, and stole their belongings.

Police say the accused has confessed to the two murders and the failed third attempt. (News18 Marathi)

In a chilling case that’s gripped Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district, a man accused of murdering two women and attempting to kill a third has been arrested in Sumthane Shivar, Parola taluka. The accused, Anil Govinda Sandanshiv, allegedly used romance as bait, earning women’s trust with affection, then leading them to a forest where he killed them with blunt force and dumped their bodies. It all came to light when one woman managed to escape.

The bodies of two victims – Shobhabai Raghunath Koli and Vaijayantabai Bhoi – have been recovered from the same patch of forest in Sumthane. Both women had been lured by Sandanshiv through flattery, feigned love, physical intimacy, and finally, murder. According to police, the killer followed a consistent method of coaxing women into believing they were in a relationship, isolating them in the forest, attacking them with stones, and stealing their ornaments and cash before abandoning the bodies.

But his string of killings came to a halt after the third intended victim, identified as Shahnaz B, managed to scream for help while he tried to assault her in the forest. Her cries alerted nearby villagers, forcing Sandanshiv to flee the scene. She later informed the police, leading to a broader investigation.

First Murder

Vaijayantabai Bhoi, a native of Farkande village in Erandol taluka, had been living in Surat, where she met Sandanshiv. According to police, the two grew close while working together. Convinced she had found love, Vaijayantabai agreed to accompany him back to Jalgaon in early May.

On May 2, she returned to her village but within days, Sandanshiv allegedly took her to the forest and murdered her. For nearly two months, her whereabouts remained unknown until July 23, when forest officials discovered her Aadhaar card, slippers, and skeletal remains. Police used those items to identify her.

Second Murder

On June 25, a decomposed body stuffed in a sack was discovered in the same forest. The victim was later identified as Shobhabai Koli of Undirkheda village. Investigators said she had also been struck on the head with a heavy stone. The repeated pattern – location, method, and motive – narrowed down the suspect pool. A technical analysis of Sandanshiv’s phone records and movements led to his arrest.

Third Murder Attempted

Shahnaz B became the turning point in the case. Sandanshiv had tried to replicate the same script with her, luring her to the same forest with romantic overtures. But during the attack, she screamed and fought back. Her survival and testimony gave police the breakthrough they needed.

Police say Sandanshiv has confessed to the two murders and the failed third attempt. Investigators are now probing whether there may be more victims, given his predatory behaviour and familiarity with the area.

Locals are shaken by the revelations. Fear has spread across villages near Sumthane, with residents demanding more police patrolling and security, especially for women.

Location :

Jalgaon, India, India

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