An 18-year-old college student was allegedly beaten to death by a group of men in Maharashtra’s Dharashiv district after accusations that he had followed and harassed a girl. His family alleged that they were threatened and prevented from intervening when the men took him away, Maktoob reported.
Sameer Jabbar Patel, a first-year B.Com student at Tuljabhawani Mahavidyalaya in Tuljapur, died on the night of November 3. His relative, Arbaz Afsar Sayyad, was also allegedly abducted and assaulted, leaving him seriously injured.
Sameer’s wedding had been scheduled for November 10, just a week after his death.
According to the complaint filed by his mother, Sameer was beaten with bamboo sticks and belts before his body was left near a parking area close to the Bharatibuwa Math temple. He was taken to a government hospital in Tuljapur, where doctors declared him dead.
Police have arrested former Tuljapur Municipal Council president Santosh Devidas Kadam and Sanjay Vilas Jadhav in connection with the killing. Both were remanded to seven days of police custody. Dharashiv Superintendent of Police Ritu Khoker Kalyan said the remaining accused named in the FIR were being traced.
Family Alleges Earlier Assault and Threats
The allegations against Sameer reportedly date back several months. According to his mother’s complaint, around three months before his death, Kadam had summoned Sameer and his parents to his residence over allegations that the teenager had been following and harassing the daughter of Kadam’s brother-in-law.
The family alleged that Sameer was assaulted during the confrontation and warned to stay away from the girl. His mother told police that he subsequently stopped attending college and began working at a bakery while preparing for his first-year examinations.
On November 3, Sameer went out to bring his uncle home after attending an examination. According to the police account, his uncle later informed the family that Sameer had been taken to Kadam’s residence.
Sameer’s parents went to the house, where they allegedly saw Kadam and another man assaulting their son over the dispute involving the girl.
The complaint states that Kadam then brought additional men to the residence. When the family tried to rescue Sameer, the men allegedly took him away. His mother also accused them of abusing and threatening the family.
A video seen by Maktoob reportedly shows a group of men assaulting Sameer.
The FIR also names Pranav Devkate, who allegedly snatched the mother’s mobile phone and confined the family for several hours, preventing them from leaving.
Relative Says He Was Abducted and Assaulted
Arbaz was reportedly sitting at a tea stall in Tuljapur when three men allegedly forced him into a vehicle and took him to an agricultural field.
Speaking to Maktoob, Arbaz said he was beaten with sticks, belts and rods. He alleged that the men demanded his phone password and searched the device. According to him, the assault continued even after they found nothing objectionable on his phone.
“They took ₹10,000 from my pocket and beat me for nearly two hours, accusing me of earning money in their area while troubling girls,” Arbaz told Maktoob.
He further alleged that the attackers later brought Sameer to the field and assaulted him alongside the other men.
After returning home, Arbaz’s family learnt that he was missing and that his parents had approached the police. Arbaz eventually returned with serious injuries. According to the police account, he then informed Sameer’s family that the teenager had been assaulted and was lying near the Bharatibuwa Math temple.
The family rushed to the location and found Sameer critically injured. They took him to the government hospital, where he was declared dead.
AIMIM Demands Action Against Those Responsible
Following the killing, AIMIM Dharashiv district president Shahbaz Kazi, municipal representative Anwar Mujawar and other party members submitted a representation to the district collector, demanding justice for Sameer, medical treatment for Arbaz and strict action against those responsible.
“Sameer was the sole breadwinner of his family. We strongly condemn this unlawful act of violence and demand the strictest action against all those responsible. The police must ensure that everyone involved is held accountable,” Kazi told Maktoob.
Kadam, also known as Parameshwar, previously served as president of the Tuljapur Municipal Council. He was earlier associated with the Nationalist Congress Party before joining the Bharatiya Janata Party in November 2025 under the leadership of local BJP MLA Rana Jagjitsinha Patil.
Tuljapur police have registered a murder case along with charges of kidnapping and other relevant offences based on Sameer’s mother’s complaint. Police have also seized the vehicle allegedly used in the incident.
