Vishal Gawali (35), the prime accused in the 2024 rape and murder of 13-year-old girl in Kalyan, has died in Taloja Central Jail.

Gawali allegedly hanged himself in the prison toilet.

Gawali was arrested in December 2024 for allegedly committing rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl after kidnapping her from Kalyan.

"We received information from Taloja jail superintendent that on April 13 at around 3.30 am, undertrial accused Vishal Gawali went to the ward toilet and hanged himself using a towel,"  Deepak Surve, senior inspector of Kharghar police station said. 

"Gawali went to the toilet early morning when all other undertrials were asleep and even the on duty guards were not around," Surve added. 

The jail medical officer confirmed the death at 4.30 am. Gawali's body has been sent to JJ hospital for postmortem.
According to the 2024 case registered against Gawali, he allegedly lured the victim from Kalyan’s Kolsewadi area and sexually assaulted her, and later strangled her.

With help from his wife, Gawali dumped the body in Bapgaon area of Bhivandi. The decomposed body was discovered days later.

Gawali fled after committing the crime and was arrested by Kalyan Police from Shegaon. His wife was also arrested in connection with the crime.

A repeat offender with a history of rape, molestation, and POCSO Act violations, Gawali was notorious and terrorized residents of Kalyan’s Valmiki Nagar and Kolsewadi areas.