On Friday, the 25‑year‑old Sripad Dinkar Vadar brought his 23‑year‑old girlfriend, engineering student Tarannum Bashir Naik, to Naikwadi Waterfall in Kolhapur, where a heated dispute erupted after she warned him that her arranged marriage would take place the following month. The argument escalated when the woman refused to abandon the relationship, prompting Vadar to shove her straight into the 1,000‑foot‑deep gorge.
The body was recovered from the abyss after a prolonged search, and a post‑mortem at CPR Hospital confirmed the cause of death as blunt force trauma. The victim’s family was notified once the autopsy report was issued.
Police officers at Bhudargad station, led by Officer Vishal Pujari, initially listened to Vadar’s claim that they were taking a selfie when the woman slipped. Suspicion grew when the story lacked detail, leading to a thorough interrogation that culminated in the suspect’s confession. He was taken into custody on Saturday.
The incident has ignited anger in the local community, with relatives demanding an impartial investigation and a fast‑track court hearing. One family member said, "We expect justice without political interference, and that girls in rural areas receive protection."
Investigators are now compiling evidence, and the case will be forwarded to the State’s Fast‑Track Court for a hearing slated for early November.