NAVI MUMBAI: Panvel city police cracked the murder case of a 60-year-old Balaram Patil, a resident of Belavali village in Panvel taluka, arresting Nanda Thakur (42) and her aide Mangesh Khetri, within 48 hours of registering a case against Thakur, with whom Patil allegedly had a relationship.
Patil, who had a mandap decoration business, was found strangled with a dupatta at Thakur’s house in Owale village in Panvel on August 13.
Senior inspector Ajay Landge said Thakur was arrested on Sunday after she returned from Buldhana and alighted from a bus at Kalamboli on Sion-Panvel highway. “She revealed the name of Khetri, with whose help she committed the crime. On the afternoon of August 13, when Patil came to Thakur’s house, she called Khetri and planned to rob Patil’s gold ornaments. The duo stuffed chilli powder inside Patil’s mouth and nose and strangulated him using her dupatta. They then locked the house and escaped,” he said.
Inspector (crime) Sanjay Joshi said the crime came to light after Patil’s son lodged a missing person complaint on Friday night. “Thakur’s son also informed police that she had left home without telling anyone. Police went to Thakur’s house and broke open the door. Patil was found dead and a dupatta entwined round his neck,” he said.
Landge said the detection branch team used technical expertise and learnt that Thakur had escaped to Buldhana. “On Sunday morning, when she alighted from a bus at Kalamboli, our team laying apprehended her. We recovered only 17 tolas from Patil,” he said.
