Mumbai: Unsolved hit-and-run turns out to be a contract killing five years later

Mumbai: Five years after a man, Ikhlaq Khan (43), who was believed to have been killed in a hit-and-run accident near Wadala in 2014, investigations have now revealed, he was actually murdered by a contract killer. Crime branch officials have arrested a 33-year-old tanker driver, in connection to the case on Thursday, who had killed Khan.

Two years after no arrests were made in 2016, Wadala TT police had filed an ‘A’ summary report, declaring it as an undetected case. However, when crime branch officials reopened the undetected cases, it was revealed Khan’s death was not an accident, but actually, a contract killing.

While one of the accomplices had already been arrested in an assault case last week, police are on the lookout for Khan’s partner, who had ordered the killing. According to Crime Branch officers, the deceased, used to supply bakery products on his bicycle and stay with his family in Sion Koliwada. On January 14, 2014, Khan was found dead near Sion Koliwada Link Road.

Earlier in March, police officials had received a tip-off, revealing Khan was murdered. The crime branch officials enquired with Khan’s family, where they learnt his partner held grudges against him and was not on good terms with Khan before the accident.

“During the investigation, it was revealed, Khan’s partner, known as Vakil, had contested the Gram Panchayat elections in his native Hardoi district, in 2014. Khan, however, had supported his opponent, which led to Vakil’s defeat. Eventually, Vakil refused to pay Rs 10 lakh that he owed Khan, which worsened matters between them,” said a police officer.

In a bid to take revenge, Vakil approached his friend Saijuddin Qureshi, who runs a water tanker business, in Mahim and sought his help in eliminating Khan. Qureshi and Khan offered Rs 40,000 to Amol Pasoba (33), who was employed with Qureshi at that time.

“A police team detained Pasoba for inquiries, who confessed and revealed the entire plot. According to the plan, Pasoba rammed the water tanker into Khan’s bicycle and even reversed the tanker to run over Khan’s torso to ensure he was dead,” the officer said.

Pasoba was remanded in police custody till March 30.Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Dilip Sawant said, “Qureshi, the former employer of the arrested accused was also booked in another assault case by the Mahim police nearly ten days ago and we have obtained the court’s permission to take him into custody, in our case. Our teams are also on the trail of Khan’s business partner and he will be arrested soon.”