Mumbai, Apr 21 (Reporter) A sessions court in neighbouring Panvel city on Monday awarded death penalty to dismissed cop Abhay Kurundkar for his involvement in the woman Police Inspector Ashwini Bidre murder case. Additional Sessions Judge K.G. Paldewar last week convicted Kurundkar on multiple charges, including abduction, murder and destruction of evidence. Special Public Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat said the case falls in the category of rarest in the rare case, and hence the accused deserve death penalty. He also cited various Apex court and high court judgments justifying his arguments. The court rejected his plea and awarded life sentence. Kurundkar’s lawyer Vishal Bhanushali opposed the prosecution plea and argued before that the death penalty cannot be given to him as the entire case is based on circumstantial evidence. According to the prosecution case prime accused, Kurundkar, allegedly murdered Ashwini Bidre at his residence in Mira Road. He was reportedly assisted in the crime by another accused Rajesh Patil, Kundan Bhandari, and Mahesh Phalnikar. Kurundkar and slain cop Bidre were reportedly in a relationship. On the night of April 11, 2016, Kurundkar allegedly murdered Ashwini in Mira Road. He then allegedly dismembered her body using a wood-cutting machine and stored the pieces in a freezer. The next day, the body parts were placed in a sack and dumped into the Vasai creek. After Bidre went missing, a missing person complaint was filed at the Kalamboli Police Station on July 14, 2017. When it was revealed that Kurundkar was involved in her disappearance, a kidnapping case was filed on January 31, 2017. Posted with the Protection of Civil Rights Unit in Konkan Bhavan, Belapur, Lady officer Bidre, a resident of Roadpali in Kalamboli, was missing since 15 April 2016 and a missing case was registered on 14 July 2016. Following this Kurundkar and other accused were arrested and a trial commenced against them...////...