Dr Death may have killed 3 more people

PUNE: Santosh Gulabrao Pol, 42, the fake doctor who has allegedly confessed to murdering six people between 2003 and 2016, may have also killed three other people

PUNE: Santosh Gulabrao Pol, 42, the fake doctor who has allegedly confessed to murdering six people between 2003 and 2016, may have also killed three other people reported as missing, the Satara police said on Wednesday.

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The police detained six people and widened the scope of the investigation to find out whether Pol had murdered the three, identified as Vilas Vishnu Dhage, who has been missing since 2001; Deepali Krishna Sanas, who disappeared in 2002; and Mahadeo Sonu Chikane, who was reported missing in 2012. Relatives of Dhage and Sanas said the two used to visit Pol for medical treatment, and Chikane is also believed to have had contact with him. Relatives of all three had filed missing-person complaints at Wai police station.

The police also arrested Jyoti Mandhare, the nurse who allegedly collaborated with Pol, and questioned six more people associated with him to check if they had anything to do with the murders. The six included a relative of Pol and doctor who previously worked with him.

Inspector General of Police Vishwas Nagre Patil said investigators have been told to check if the three missing people had been in touch with Pol around the time they disappeared. “I appeal people to inform their local police station if they come across any information pertaining to Pol,” said Nagre Patil. In a press release issued late on Wednesday evening, the police said they have launched a probe to check if Pol had anything to do with their disappearances.

An official, who did not wish to be named as he is not authorized to speak to the media, said Pol may also have been involved in a kidney-trafficking racket. “We believe he may have removed kidneys from his victims’ bodies and sold them,” said the official.

District superintendent of police Sandip Patil said, “Eight teams have been formed to investigate various aspects of the case. An official has been appointed to probe each missing-person case and its possible links to Pol.”