Palghar, Maharashtra: Avinash Dhodi, the main accused in the brutal murder of Shiv Sena office-bearer Ashok Dhodi, was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning from Silvassa, ending a five-month-long manhunt. Dhodi had been on the run since the murder in January this year, evading police efforts across multiple states.
The crime, which stemmed from a family land dispute, took place on January 20, 2025. Avinash Dhodi, reportedly enraged over the issue, intercepted his brother Ashok Dhodi’s vehicle around 4 pm at Vevji Ghat in Talasari taluka. Along with a group of accomplices, he allegedly assaulted and kidnapped Ashok, before murdering him. In a calculated move to destroy evidence, the accused dumped the body and the car in a water-filled abandoned quarry in Sarigam, Umargaon, Gujarat.
Ashok Dhodi’s body was discovered 12 days later in a stone quarry pond, prompting a full-scale investigation. The Palghar police registered a case against nine individuals, arresting five, while four, including Avinash Dhodi, remained absconding.
Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh took immediate cognizance of the case, assigning the Local Crime Branch (LCB) under Inspector Pradeep Patil to lead the investigation. The search team, operating under Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ankita Kanse, combed through several regions including Gholwad, Umargaon, Vapi, Diu, Daman, Silvassa, Indore, and parts of Rajasthan, following intelligence leads.
Acting on a tip-off, LCB officers finally apprehended Dhodi at around 3:30 am in Silvassa.
The operation involved coordinated efforts by a dedicated police team including Additional Superintendent of Police Vinayak Narle, LCB Inspector Pradeep Patil, Assistant Police Inspector Anil Vhatkar, Sub-Inspectors Swapnil Sawant Desai, Gorakhnath Rathod, and other officers and constables from the Palghar force.
Controversy had earlier surrounded the case after it was revealed that Dhodi had escaped from police custody at the Gholwad Police Station following his initial detention. The escape raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the local police, sparking criticism from the public and media alike.
Apart from the murder charge, Avinash Dhodi also has previous cases registered against him in 2016 and 2018 related to corruption and violations under the liquor prohibition laws.
The three other accomplices in the Ashok Dhodi case remain at large. However, the police have assured that efforts are ongoing to track and arrest them soon.
Further investigation is currently being conducted under the supervision of SDPO Ankita Kanse.
