Vaijapur murder case: 16 arrested, juvenile detained after Ganeshotsav clash
Synopsis
A festival turned fatal in Vaijapur: a clash during the Ganeshotsav 2026 immersion procession killed Rohit Pathare on 3 November, and police have now arrested 16 accused — including the main suspect — with a juvenile also detained. The SC/ST Atrocities Act has been invoked alongside BNS charges, underscoring the gravity of a case that remains open with more suspects at large.
Key Takeaways
16 accused have been arrested and a juvenile detained in the murder of Rohit Pathare in Vaijapur .
Pathare died on 3 November 2026 from injuries sustained during a clash at the Ganeshotsav 2026 immersion procession.
Six new arrests were made on 9 November 2026 ; all six are residents of Vaijapur .
Charges filed under Crime No.
701/2026 include multiple sections of the BNS, 2023 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 .
SP Prakash Jadhav and Additional SP Aparajita Agnihotri are overseeing the investigation; police are still searching for remaining absconding accused.
Police in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar have arrested 16 accused, including the prime suspect, in connection with the murder of Rohit Pathare, who succumbed to injuries sustained during a clash between two groups at the Ganeshotsav 2026 immersion procession in Vaijapur. A juvenile has also been detained in the case. Pathare had been receiving treatment after the altercation before he died on 3 November 2026.
Key Developments
Six additional accused were apprehended on 9 November 2026, bringing the cumulative arrests to 16 across two related cases, excluding the detained juvenile. The latest six arrested have been identified as Avinash alias Aniket Popat Hond, Dnyaneshwar Sitaram Wadalkar, Pratik Kailash Salunke, Rohit Machhindra Aher, Sanket Adinath Aher, and Tushar Adinath Aher — all residents of Vaijapur.
Prior to this, eight accused had been arrested in the murder case, while two others were arrested separately under Crime No. 698/2026 at Vaijapur police station. The latest batch of arrests brings the combined total across both cases to 16, not counting the juvenile.
Charges Filed
A case has been registered at Vaijapur police station under Crime No. 701/2026, invoking multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — including Sections 103, 109(1), 140(1), 333, 189, 190, 118(1), 118(2), 115(2), 352, 351(2), and 351(3). Charges have also been framed under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, signalling the alleged communal and caste dimension of the incident.
Police Operation
Superintendent of Police Prakash Jadhav ordered five teams from the Local Crime Branch and Vaijapur police station to trace the accused, operating under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police Aparajita Agnihotri. Investigators reportedly used confidential informants and technical surveillance to locate suspects who had allegedly fled to other districts.
The operation involved Vaijapur Sub-Divisional Police Officer Bhagwat Funde, probationary Deputy Superintendent of Police and Vaijapur police station in-charge Vinay Sonawane, and Local Crime Branch Police Inspector Vijay Singh Rajput, among other senior personnel.
Search Continues
Police teams remain in the field to trace remaining absconding accused. The invocation of the SC/ST Atrocities Act alongside BNS provisions suggests investigators are treating the case as having a potential caste angle, adding legal gravity to what began as a clash during a religious procession. This is the latest in a pattern of violence that has periodically erupted during major festival processions in Maharashtra's Marathwada region.
Point of View
And the speed of arrests here reflects political pressure as much as police efficiency. The real test will come at trial: whether the SC/ST provisions hold, and whether all absconding accused are brought in before the case loses momentum.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Rohit Pathare and how did he die?
Rohit Pathare was a resident who sustained injuries during a clash between two groups at the Ganeshotsav 2026 immersion procession in Vaijapur, Maharashtra. He died on 3 November 2026 while undergoing treatment for those injuries.
How many people have been arrested in the Vaijapur murder case?
A total of 16 accused have been arrested across two related cases — Crime No. 701/2026 and Crime No. 698/2026 — registered at Vaijapur police station, excluding a juvenile who has been detained separately.
What charges have been filed in the Vaijapur murder case?
The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Sections 103, 109(1), 140(1), 333, and others, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Who is leading the Vaijapur murder investigation?
The investigation is being supervised by Superintendent of Police Prakash Jadhav and Additional Superintendent of Police Aparajita Agnihotri. The operation involved teams from the Local Crime Branch and Vaijapur police station.
Are there still suspects at large in the Vaijapur case?
Yes, police have confirmed that some accused remain absconding and are continuing efforts to trace them. Investigators used confidential information and technical analysis to locate earlier suspects who had allegedly fled to other districts.
