Jealousy Drives Friend to Poison Minor Neighbour to Death

Nagpur: Jealous College Student Poisons 17-Year-Old Friend Over Property WindfallNagpur – Simmering with jealousy over his friend's sudden fortune, a college student allegedly poisoned a Std XII boy to death in Neelkanth Nagar. The deceased has been identified as Vedant Khandate, aged 17. Police have arrested Mithilesh Chakole, a second-year commerce student who was once a close friend of the victim.

According to police sources, Vedant's father had recently received some money after selling a property. This change in the family's financial status allegedly triggered resentment in Chakole, ultimately leading to a fallout between the two friends. Consumed by envy, Chakole reportedly plotted to murder Vedant.

On April 8, Chakole allegedly laced Vedant's cold drink with an insecticide commonly used to kill cockroaches. Vedant was rushed to the hospital after falling critically ill and succumbed to the poisoning on April 11.

Initially, the Hudkeshwar police registered a case of accidental death, but following a detailed investigation, it was reclassified as murder. Investigators discovered that Chakole had also attempted to extort ₹2 lakh from Vedant's father. On April 10, he left an anonymous threat letter on the bonnet of the father's car, demanding money while posing as a tantric.

Chakole had assured Vedant's father that he could cure his ailing son, even as the teen fought for his life in the hospital.

A senior official from Hudkeshwar police station confirmed that a murder case was filed against Chakole, and he was picked up from his residence. During interrogation, Chakole reportedly confessed to the crime when police questioned his presence with Vedant at the time the poisoned cold drink was consumed.

Chakole was arrested on Sunday and produced before the court on Monday, where he was remanded to police custody until April 17.