Panvel Civic Body Delays Issuing Murdered API Ashwini Bidre's Death Certificate
The Panvel Municipal Corporation has failed to register the death and issue a death certificate for former assistant police inspector Ashwini Bidre-Gore, despite a direct order from the Panvel Tehsildar and the submission of over 400 pages of supporting documents.
The administrative delay has created hurdles for Bidre’s daughter, Suchi, who has been unable to access government and service-related benefits following her mother's death. According to her father, Raju Gore, the absence of the official certificate has also disrupted her higher education and admission procedures.
The Additional Sessions Court in Panvel held in its judgment on April 21, 2025, that Bidre died a homicidal death on April 11, 2016. Following the court ruling, Gore approached the local administration to secure the official death certificate. Bidre's murder had led to the conviction and sentencing to life imprisonment of dismissed police inspector Abhay Kurundkar and other accused.
After examining the court judgment, legal paperwork, and reports from the Kalamboli police, Panvel Executive Magistrate and Tehsildar Minal Bhamare-Bhosale issued an order on July 31. The directive instructed the Panvel Municipal Corporation’s birth and death registration department to record Bidre’s death dated April 11, 2016, in the 2016-17 register and immediately issue the certificate.
Gore subsequently submitted the Tehsildar’s order, the court judgment, Kalamboli police reports, and more than 400 pages of requested documents to the municipal registrar’s office. He also travelled twice from Kolhapur to Panvel to meet civic officials in person. However, the death has still not been recorded in municipal records.
Panvel Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mangesh Chitale stated that the civic body had not yet received the official copy of the order from the Tehsildar, adding that required procedures would follow once it arrived.
Gore contested the civic administration's stance, noting that a corporation employee had contacted him on August 19 to request additional documents, which he supplied, indicating the civic body was already aware of the order.
