Four Nagpur police and forensic officers named for Union Home Minister's medal for investigation

Nagpur, October 31: Four officers of the Nagpur police and forensic department have been selected for the Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Investigation. The Union Home Ministry made the announcement on October 31. The medal will go to DCP Rushikesh Singareddy, Dr Vijay Thakre, Police Inspector Prabhavati Ekure and Police Inspector Ritesh Aher. The medal recognises outstanding work in investigation, special operations, intelligence and forensic science.

Singareddy is being honoured for his investigation of a murder in Nanded in which the killer's identity was initially unknown. He was then working as Superintendent of Police in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar ATS. He helped solve the murder, which took place in a shooting on February 10, 2025, in just 20 days.

The investigation brought to light alleged links to the banned Khalistani organisation Babbar Khalsa International. Alleged threads also connected the case to the network of Harvinder Singh alias Rinda, a terrorist based in Pakistan, and Happy Passia. Of the 14 accused in all, 10 have been arrested. The remaining four are suspected to be abroad, and lookout circulars have been issued against them. In the investigation, the ATS coordinated with the NIA, Punjab Police and intelligence agencies.

Separately, threatening calls were received on January 14, 2023, at the Nagpur public relations office of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Police Inspector Prabhavati Ekure played an important role in investigating the case. The caller had demanded Rs 100 crore and threatened to kill the minister.

The investigation traced the calls to gangster Jayesh Kantha alias Jayesh Pujari. He is alleged to have used a mobile phone that was being operated illegally from Belagavi prison. Further investigation also revealed a link to Afsar Pasha, an operative of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Inspector Ritesh Aher also made an important contribution in this case, coordinating with the ATS and the NIA.

Dr Vijay Thakre is currently Director of the state's forensic science laboratories. He has been selected for his work in strengthening forensic science and increasing the use of scientific evidence in crime investigation.

The selection has put the spotlight on the work being done by Nagpur's police and forensic officers in complex crimes and cases related to national security.