Mumbai Crime: Former watchman among four held for abducting, killing Thane jeweller

Bharat Jain went missing on the night of August 14. File Pic

Four people were arrested for abducting and killing a 42-year-old jeweller in Thane last week. The former watchman of the building where the victim, Bharat Jain, lived, hatched the plan to steal gold from him. The watchman, identified as Atul Mishra (25), abducted the jeweller with help of three others but as Jain identified Mishra, they strangled him to death, said police.

The body of the jeweller, a resident of Makhmali Lake, was found in Retibunder, Thane creek on August 20. Post mortem revealed that he was strangled to death on the same day. A case of murder was filed in Naupada police station against four unidentified persons.

Jain went missing on the night of August 14. Cops recovered CCTV footage in which they saw Jain sitting in a car with three people. The car was traced and found to be a fleet cab, but passengers had given a lump sum amount to the driver just to ferry in Thane. Investigation also revealed a car had passed several times in front of Jains' jewellery shop in Charai, Thane.

Also Read: Week on, missing Thane jeweller's body found

Cops picked up Subhash Surve (39) from Ghansoli and during his interrogation found that he was given money by Mishra and Nilesh Bhoir (35). "Mishra was working as a watchman a couple of years ago in a housing society where the deceased lived. He knew about Jain's shop and thought a single attempt could give him gold worth Rs 25 to 30 lakh," said an officer from Naupada police station.

Mishra hired a cab and brought another person Balwant Cholekar (36) on board who helped them escape to Uttar Pradesh on August 15. On August 14 night the accused abducted Jain on gun-point and pushed him inside the car. Mishra had covered his face with a handkerchief but during the scuffle it slipped and Jain identified Mishra, said police. Fearing getting caught, Mishra strangulated Jain. They then took the keys of his shop and threw the body in Thane creek.

Mishra came back to the shop and tried to open the locker having gold ornaments, failing which they took all the silver ornaments and utensils and ran away. Cops arrested Mishra and Bhoir from Uttar Pradesh.