Mumbai: Auto owner kills employee over suspected affair

The police with the accused

Crime Branch Unit V successfully tracked and apprehended three individuals involved in the murder of a 23-year-old auto-rickshaw driver. Identified as Nafiz Sharafat Khan alias Kakki, 36, Mukesh Shyamnarayan Pal, 25, and Mohammed Saqir Sed alias Jastin, 23, all three suspects were held following an intensive investigation involving the scrutiny of over 200 CCTV cameras and human intelligence.

The victim, an unmarried man residing in the Govandi area, was found dead under suspicious circumstances. The deceased, who used to drive one of Khan's five auto-rickshaws, was initially believed to have committed suicide. However, a post-mortem examination at Rajawadi Hospital revealed that it was, in fact, a well-planned murder.

An officer from Unit V explained, "The body was disposed of in Mithi River at 4.30 am. The investigation hit a dead end until the deceased's auto-rickshaw was spotted at Shivaji Nagar rickshaw stand. This raised suspicion as the body was found in Kurla while the auto-rickshaw was parked in Shivaji Nagar."

The suspects, residents of Govandi, were eventually arrested from the jurisdiction of Shivaji Nagar, Govandi police station, after meticulous tracking and human intelligence. Khan, the primary accused, is a known criminal with previous cases, including possession of firearms. Another officer stated, "Khan suspected his wife of having an affair with the deceased. On January 4, he invited the victim to his house, where they consumed alcohol. Later, the two other auto drivers, Pal and Jastin, prevented the victim from leaving. Khan then choked him, and the body was disposed of using Khan's auto-rickshaw."

DCP Raj Tilak Roushan said, "The post mortem found that the deceased's face had marks of assault as well. We reached the family of the deceased who then confirmed his identity." The police recovered firearms, a khukri, and other weapons from Khan's residence during the operation.