Girlfriend calls and lover goes missing in Mandla:5 days later, semi-naked body found in forest; private part missing, raising doubt of murder

Today in Madhya Pradesh Crime Files, we revisit a chilling murder case from Mandla district that kept police puzzled for nearly two years. What first appeared to be a wild animal attack was later exposed as a brutal, carefully planned murder, entangled in a complex love affair and a shocking lack of evidence. What really happened? Who killed the young man so mercilessly—and why? Read Part 1 of Crime Files. The last phone call and a sudden disappearance On the night of September 20, 2021, around 9:30 pm, 22-year-old Rajendra Pandre was sitting with his cousin Dinesh at his under-construction PM Awas in a small village under Bichhiya police station limits. The atmosphere was normal until Rajendra received a phone call. The call was from a girl. As soon as he answered, his voice lowered. While talking, he stepped outside the house and walked away. Dinesh assumed Rajendra would return or go to their old house, as he often did. But Rajendra never came back. No trace for three days By the next morning, concern spread in the family. Rajendra’s father Lakhan Pandre said his son followed a routine—having dinner by 8 pm and then guarding the new house at night. When Rajendra did not return, the family tried calling his phone, but it was switched off. They searched nearby villages, friends, and relatives, but for three days there was no clue. Finally, on September 23, a missing person report was filed at Bichhiya police station. Body found in the forest after five days On September 25, five days after Rajendra went missing, family members and villagers were searching the forest. About two hours away from the village, in the Dobhan forest area, a foul smell led Rajendra’s relatives to a horrifying sight. A highly decomposed body was found lying among bushes. The body was semi-nude, with no pants or underwear. The face was difficult to recognize, insects had infested the body, and the private parts were missing. Based on clothes and physical features, the body was identified as Rajendra’s. The news sent shockwaves through the village. Rajendra’s mother Mannobai and sister Priyanka rushed to the spot in a state of shock. Two theories before police After reaching the scene, police considered two possibilities: Initially treating it as a murder, police registered a case against unknown persons and sent the body for postmortem. Love affair comes under scanner During questioning, Rajendra’s family revealed a crucial detail. His mother told police that Rajendra was in a relationship with a village girl named Sonal. She directly suspected Sonal’s family, saying Rajendra had gone towards her house the night he disappeared. This was supported by cousin Dinesh, the last person to see Rajendra alive, who confirmed that Rajendra left while talking to Sonal on the phone. Postmortem reveals the truth: It was murder The postmortem report completely ruled out a wild animal attack. Conducted by Dr. Dinesh Kumar Taksande, the report stated: The report confirmed that this was a planned and extremely brutal murder. Two months in the village, still no breakthrough After the murder was confirmed, police intensified the investigation. A team camped in the village for nearly two months, questioning every household. Sonal’s father, brother, and other relatives were detained and interrogated for several days. However, no solid evidence or eyewitness emerged. Due to lack of proof, all suspects were released. Anyone who came under suspicion was questioned and then let go. Despite months of effort, the case only grew more complicated. Even after four months, police had no concrete lead pointing to the real killer. What happened next? Read Crime Files – Part 2 for the shocking twists ahead.