In a case that brought back memories of the chilling Stoneman Murders of the 1980s, the DB Marg police Monday arrested a 23-year-old rag picker for allegedly killing a 55-year-old man by bashing his head in with a stone. The police have also found out that the accused had committed a similar murder in Goa earlier.
According to the DB Marg police, the deceased, Gajanan Pawar, was found dead near the Girgaum Chowpatty in the early hours of June 29. Based on his son Manohar's complaint, and the injuries on the body, the police had registered a case of murder against unknown persons under the Indian Penal Code.
"We checked the footage of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at and around the spot, using which we identified the suspect and tracked his movements all the way to the Bandra railway station. We also obtained stills of the footage where his face had been captured and showed it to scores of pavement dwellers in Bandra. Through these inquiries, we received preliminary information that the accused is a rag picker," said senior police inspector Pradeep Khude, DB Marg police station.
During their investigations, the police also learned that certain charitable organisations provided free food to the poor and the homeless near the Balaji Hotel on Hill Road, Bandra. A team of police personnel in plain clothes subsequently started staking out the spot as well as all roads leading to it every night.
On Sunday night, the police spotted a man corresponding to the image of the suspect approaching the hotel. The man was surrounded and restrained before he could run away, and when preliminary questioning pointed towards his involvement in the murder, he was taken to the police station for further inquiries.
Under sustained questioning, the suspect, identified as Suraj Yadav, 23, allegedly confessed to the murder.
"The accused was drunk at the time of the incident and had a sudden disagreement with the deceased, during which he bashed his head in with a stone and left the spot. He has also said in his questioning that he had similarly killed another man in Goa in the past. We have informed the Goa police about this and a team from Goa has left for Mumbai," Khude said.
Yadav was placed under arrest on Monday morning following his confession and produced in court, where he was remanded in police custody till July 8, officers said.
