By | Nisar Shaikh
Ratnagiri: The case began in August when 26-year-old Bhakti Mayekar, who was pregnant, went missing. On 18 August, Bhakti had sent a message to her brother claiming she was safe. But police investigations revealed that the message was actually sent from Durvas Patil’s bar.
During interrogation, Patil initially denied meeting Bhakti, but inconsistencies in his statements exposed his lies. By late August, police took him into custody. What followed stunned the investigating officers.
Durvas not only confessed to Bhakti’s murder but also admitted to killing two others — Rakesh Jangam (28), a waiter at his bar missing since June 2024, and Sitaram Veer (55), another employee.
According to SP Nitin Bagate, Patil was in a relationship with Bhakti but refused to marry her, as he wanted to marry within his own caste. When Bhakti insisted, he strangled her with a wire in a room above his bar and later dumped her body at Amba Ghat. Police later recovered her decomposed remains after a 10-day search in the dense forest.
The investigation also revealed that Veer was killed after Durvas suspected him of helping Bhakti communicate with him. Veer was beaten severely inside the bar, and when he succumbed to his injuries, his family unknowingly performed the final rites.
Jangam, who had witnessed Veer’s killing, became the next target. Durvas, with the help of his associate Nilesh Bhingarde, allegedly strangled Jangam after intoxicating him, before disposing of the body at Amba Ghat. More than a year later, the remains could not be recovered.
Police have arrested Durvas Patil, along with his accomplices Nilesh Bhingarde and Vishwas Pawar. Recently, Patil’s father Darshan Patil was also taken into custody for allegedly advising Jangam to leave Ratnagiri and assisting in cover-ups.
Following the revelations, on 4 September, the Excise Department sealed Sayli Bar, the site where Bhakti was murdered.
The case highlights the determined efforts of Ratnagiri Police, who not only solved Bhakti’s disappearance but also uncovered a chilling pattern of crimes. SP Nitin Bagate confirmed that further investigation is underway, and all accused will face strict legal action
