A woman was arrested by Thane police on Sunday, January 21. The woman is accused of allegedly planning to kill a Nashik-based doctor. The accused, identified as Neha Jadhav (47) alias Jyotsna Pagare, allegedly wanted to kill the doctor after her relationship with him soured. Police officials said Neha, who had befriended the doctor, started blackmailing the doctor after their relationship ended.

An officer from the anti-extortion cell said that the woman was blackmailing the doctor and even demanded Rs 50 lakh from him. The accused had reportedly threatened the doctor with consequences if he failed to pay the amount. The incident came to light after the doctor lodged a complaint against his former partner.

After the complaint by the doctor and an initial probe, police learned that the accused woman was trying to hire a hitman to kill the doctor. Acting on this lead, the police apparently sent an official who posed as a contract killer. The decoy managed to convince the woman and even told her that he would take up "any kind of work." After a few conversations, the accused, Neha Jadhav, told the decoy about her plan to eliminate the doctor.

Particularly, she even agreed to pay Rs 3 lakh to the decoy to kill the doctor. However, the woman was clueless that the contract killer was sent by the police. Then, the woman shared the doctor's details, including his picture, clinic address, wife's photos, etc., with the hitman on WhatsApp. To collect proof, the decoy also voice-recorded the entire conversation with Neha.

An officer said that the accused woman gave a lethal injection (vial) and a syringe to the decoy and told the decoy to inject the doctor. To win her trust, the decoy even visited Nashik to show that he was serious about getting the job done. After the so-called decoy called her from Nashik, the woman paid him Rs 20,000 via an e-wallet as the first installment. Currently, the woman is in police custody.

A case has been lodged under Section 115 (Abetment of offense punishable with death or imprisonment for life if offense not committed) of the IPC at Kapurbawdi police station. Neha was produced in court on Sunday and remanded in police custody until January 24.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Komal Bhoi)