Snakebite murder exposed after three years

Congress woman leader killed in chilling plot by husband, four arrested

Accused Rupesh Amberkar & Death Neerja Amberkar

Badlapur: Maharashtra has been rocked by the shocking revelation that a Congress party woman office-bearer was brutally murdered through a planned snakebite, allegedly orchestrated by her own husband with the help of a snake rescuer. After remaining hidden for three years as an accidental death, the case has now been cracked by the police, leading to the arrest of four accused, including the husband.

According to police investigations, Neerja Amberkar, a Congress office-bearer from Badlapur, was killed in a premeditated conspiracy in which a poisonous snake was deliberately used as a murder weapon. Her husband, Rupesh Amberkar, initially reported her death as accidental. At the time, no suspicious circumstances were found at the scene, and the post-mortem report also did not raise strong doubts, resulting in the case being registered as an Accidental Death Report (ADR).

However, over time, technical evidence, witness statements, and confidential information raised serious suspicions about the nature of the death. Acting on new inputs received around six months ago, police reopened the case and began a detailed reinvestigation.

Husband Confesses

During the renewed probe, police questioned the deceased woman’s family members, relatives, and local residents. Investigators found the husband’s behavior, his financial and domestic disputes, and his links with a snake rescuer to be suspicious. Under sustained interrogation, Rupesh Amberkar confessed to the crime, revealing that he had arranged for a poisonous snake to be brought into the house and used to kill his wife.

As per police findings, a poisonous snake was procured from a snake rescuer and kept in the house for three to four days. On the day of the incident, Neerja Amberkar was told that a massage therapist had been called to relieve her leg pain. She was asked to lie face down on a mat in the hall.

Under the pretext of giving a massage, one accused held her leg, while the snake rescuer removed the snake from a gunny bag kept in the kitchen using a stick and handed it to another accomplice. Rupesh Amberkar allegedly sat on Neerja’s back to restrain her, after which the snake was made to bite her near the left ankle three times, leading to her death.

Case Reopened

Neerja Amberkar, who was the Congress Assembly President from Murmad constituency in Badlapur, was murdered three years ago. Police officials stated that while investigating another case around six months ago, they received confidential information suggesting that her death was not natural. In December, an accused in a separate attempted murder case was arrested, and during his interrogation, crucial information linking the snakebite death to murder came to light. This breakthrough confirmed that the earlier ADR was, in fact, a homicide.

Police have arrested four accused in the case

• Rupesh Satishchandra Amberkar (40) – Husband of the deceased

• Rishikesh Ramesh Chalke – Resident of Aptewadi, Badlapur

• Kunal Vishwanath Chaudhary (25) – Resident of MHADA Colony, Sadguru Bungalow, Badlapur

• Chetan Vijay Dudhane (36) – Snake rescuer, resident of Ganesh Nagar, Badlapur

All the accused have been produced before the court. Police have also indicated that the doctors who prepared the initial post-mortem report will be questioned, as there is suspicion that certain aspects were overlooked during the initial examination.

While speaking to ‘The Perfect Voice’, Assistant Commissioner of Police Shailesh Kale said that ADR No. 53/2022 was registered at Badlapur East Police Station following Neerja Amberkar’s death. As no objections or suspicions were raised at the time and the medical opinion suggested no foul play, the case was closed. “However, based on confidential information received recently indicating that the death was a murder and not natural, we have been working on this case for the last six months. Four accused have been arrested in connection with this crime,” he stated.

The sensational murder case, exposed after three years, has sent shockwaves through political circles and the local community. Police have confirmed that further investigation is underway, and more startling details may emerge in the coming days.