Ghatkopar Ganeshotsav Mandal President Stabbed To Death Over Alleged Staring Dispute; Seven Arrested

Mumbai, September 19 - In a devastating turn of events during the Ganeshotsav festival, the president of a local Ganeshotsav mandal, Rajesh Rajendran Devender, was stabbed to death in Ghatkopar East, amidst a dispute over an alleged staring incident. The Mumbai police have apprehended seven individuals in connection with the murder.

The deceased, identified as Devender, 35, was a prominent figure at the Seven Star Sports Club Ganpati Mandal in Kamraj Nagar, Ghatkopar East. He worked at a private laboratory and was a key member of the mandal.

According to police reports, the incident unfolded around 9:30 PM on September 18 outside the mandal venue. The confrontation erupted when the main accused, Raunak Balu Sonawane, confronted 18-year-old mandal volunteer Vinay Sharma, accusing him of staring angrily at him. The dispute quickly escalated, leading Sharma to be slapped by Sonawane. Devender, attempting to intervene and de-escalate the situation, was subsequently attacked by Sonawane and his accomplices.

Sonawane, along with his associates - Akash Subhash Sonawane, Ashwin Ganesh Unavane, Shreyas Ajay Shukla, Bablu, and Stephen Segal Nadar alias Anna - formed an unlawful assembly and brutally assaulted Devender, stabbing him in the chest with a knife. A witness, Anand Tiwari, attempted to save Devender but was also stabbed in the waist and now faces severe injuries. Both victims were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where Devender was declared dead on arrival.

Following a complaint filed by Devender's sister-in-law, Deepti Raju Pillai, 35, the Pant Nagar police registered a case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder and other relevant provisions. All seven accused, including the primary suspect Raunak Sonawane, who is involved in the decoration business, have been taken into custody.

The police are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident to uncover further details. For those interested in exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai and its surrounding areas, further information can be found at https://budgetproperties.in/.