Navi Mumbai: The search for the body of API Ashwini Bidre, who is suspected to have been murdered and disposed of in Vasai Creek, continued on Wednesday with a specialist firm joining the search. Belapur-based Ocean Science and Surveying has set up its equipment to scan the creek’s bed for evidence.
The firm will be using scuba divers to figure out where the search operation with a gradiometer should be conducted. The body was allegedly wrapped in a gunny bag with four iron blocks tied to its corners.
“The real search is not even for the body, it is for those iron blocks. Even if we don’t find her mortal remains, the iron block will be a very important piece of evidence,” a police officer said. Prime accused Police Inspector Abhay Kurundkar had purchased the iron blocks from a shop in Bhayander, which has been identified by police.
The officer added, “The study will be mainly to understand which direction the body would have taken. By now, it will be below several layers of sand. To find it, we’ll need at least a rough idea of the location. The research part might take around a week, after which the actual search operation will begin.” Sources said the firm is charging the Navi Mumbai Police around ₹2 lakh per day, and the gradiometer will be imported. The firm is apparently the only one that could arrange for a gradiometer at short notice, police sources said.
ACP Sangeeta Alphanso was present at Vasai creek with the firm’s technicians. On March 5 and 6, Navy personnel had conducted a search operation in Vasai Creek using divers and underwater cameras, but the contaminated water and poor visibility yielded no result. The Navy team searched up to 20 metres from the spot in all directions over two days.
