A first suspect, local youth Vasudev Ozekar, is also in custody, and police say more arrests may follow.
While the motive behind the murder remains unclear, SP Akshat Kaushal, addressing the media on Sunday, confirmed that the probe is intensifying and new details are emerging.
Shravn Barve was found murdered in what police now describe as a well-planned and cold-blooded conspiracy
On April 15, Valpoi Police were alerted to the presence of a dead body near a temple in Ambede. A team comprising Valpoi police officials and forensic experts reached the scene and conducted a preliminary investigation. The deceased was identified as Shravan Barve, a 24-year-old local resident of Ambede, by his relatives.
Initial examination and a panchnama (scene investigation) suggested suspicious circumstances. Upon forensic recommendation, the case was swiftly upgraded to a murder investigation, and an FIR was filed under Section 103 of the (BNS) against unknown persons at 2:00 PM the same day.
Given the gravity of the crime, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was promptly assembled. The team included the SDPOs of Porvorim and Bicholim, along with Police Inspectors from Bicholim and Valpoi.
As investigators struggled to gather leads, local residents pointed police to a nearby birthday party that had taken place on the same night Shravan was killed. The celebration occurred close to both Shravan’s house and the eventual location of his body.
On interrogating attendees of the party — who stayed on late watching an IPL match — police uncovered a crucial clue. Several witnesses reported seeing Shravan walking nearby during the event.
This led to a major breakthrough: the arrest of 43-year-old Vasudev Ozekar, a daily wage laborer and resident of Ambede, on April 18. According to police, this is the first arrest in the case.
During intense interrogation, Vasudev confessed to his role in the murder. But what followed stunned the investigators . He named two accomplices: Shravan’s father, Devidas Barve, and brother, Uday Barve.
According to Vasudev’s statement, Devidas had approached him on April 13, two days before the murder, to plan Shravan’s killing. Devidas had allegedly filed multiple police complaints in the past accusing Shravan of violent behavior. In one such incident, Shravan was summoned and cautioned at the Valpoi Police Station.
The postmortem report revealed that Shravan died of strangulation. However, investigators found a rope around the victim’s neck, which forensic experts believe was used to stage the scene and mislead the investigation.
While the exact motive remains under investigation, SP Kaushal stated that the Barve family’s relationship with Shravan had been deeply strained. For over five years, Shravan had been living alone in Ambede, while the rest of his family resided in Honda. Only his father, Devidas, maintained occasional contact primarily to deliver food.
Interestingly, the temple near which the birthday party occurred was reportedly built by the Barve family, and Vasudev Ozekar had been appointed as the president of the temple committee by them. The proximity of the party venue and the crime scene (less than a mile apart) further links the events of that night to the murder.
SP Kaushal confirmed that Vasudev worked on the Barve family’s farmland, the very site where Shravan’s body was discovered.
He added that more arrests may follow as the investigation progresses.
Case Registered: Murder under BNS Section 103 on April 15
First Arrest: Vasudev Ozekar (April 18)
Second Arrest: Devidas Barve (father), Uday Barve (brother) April 19
Cause of Death: Strangulation (as per postmortem)
Evidence Suggests: Attempt to mislead with staged scene
Motive: Suspected long-standing family conflict
Further Action: Investigation ongoing; additional arrests likely