Yashashree Shinde Murder: CCTV Captures Accused Daud Shaikh Following Victim on Day of Crime

Mumbai: The ongoing investigation of the murder of 20-year-old Yashashree Shinde from Uran has reached a breakthrough with the emergence of new CCTV footage. The video shows Yashashree being followed by the accused, Daud Shaikh, shortly before her death. The footage, dated July 25, surfaced hours after Shaikh's arrest by the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch Unit in Karnataka's Gulbarga district.

In the CCTV footage, Yashashree is seen walking past the Uran market, with Shaikh trailing her minutes later. Yashashree had been missing since July 25 and was found murdered near Uran Railway Station early on July 27. Shaikh, 24, was apprehended in the Shahpur hill area of Gulbarga.

A senior police official reported that two days after Yashashree's body was discovered near Uran railway station, police arrested Shaikh for allegedly killing her. The Deputy Commissioner of Police confirmed that Shaikh was held in the Shahapur area of Gulbarga in Karnataka.

Yashashree's body was found around 2 am on Saturday after her parents filed a missing persons report on July 25. However, the murder is believed to have occurred on Friday afternoon. According to the police, Yashashree, who worked in Belapur, had taken a half-day leave on Friday.

A case under section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered against an unidentified person initially, and three teams were formed to trace the accused. The crime branch also conducted an independent investigation into the case.

The new CCTV footage has provided crucial evidence, showing Shaikh following Yashashree in the Uran market area. This development has reinforced the police's case against Shaikh, who is now in custody and awaiting further legal proceedings.

Additional Police Commissioner (Crime) Deepak Sakore said the victim and Shaikh had been in touch with each other and had met on the day of the murder. A heated argument between the two may have led to the killing, but the exact motive behind the crime is not yet clear, and a probe is on, he said.

According to police, the victim, who worked in Belapur, had taken a half-day leave. The autopsy report confirmed that the victim died of stab wounds, he said.

Sakore said Shaikh had lived in Uran for some time but went to Karnataka after the victim's father lodged a police complaint against him, and a POCSO case was registered in 2019. The accused worked as a driver in the neighbouring state, and the victim remained in touch with him, he said.

The woman's mobile phone has not been recovered, and efforts are underway to trace it, the official said, adding that Shaikh has confessed to the crime and arrangements are being made to bring him to Navi Mumbai for further questioning.