The mutilated and decomposed body of a property dealer was found by the Oshiwara police on the outskirts of Lokhandwala Complex on Sept 14.

The deceased has been identified as Kashinath Chandrakant Gharath (39), a resident of Kandivli, who is believed to be a friend of encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar, who is now leading the Mumbai polices anti-robbery squad.

Kashinath had been missing for a number of days and his family had filed a missing person report at the Oshiwara police station on Sept 8.

Manohar (33), younger brother of the deceased, says, Bhau (Kashinath) was supposed to meet his business associate at Lokhandwala, but after a few hours his cell phone was switched off and we couldnt contact him.

The family revealed that Kashinath had a property deal worth Rs 14 lakh with a man called Aslam Panchi. He had already recovered Rs 10.2 lakh from Panchi, and that day, was to receive the remaining amount of Rs 3.8 lakh.

Bhau was close to Salaskar sahib who guided him regularly about his problems, but on this matter, he took the bold step of doing it alone and not asking him, says Manohar, adding that they also filed a case of abduction with the Oshiwara police on Sept 12 and told the cops about the rivalry with Panchi.

The same night the police arrested Aslam Panchi, his son Mohammed Azam and an associate. After interrogation by API Jagdish Sail, Azam confessed to killing Kashinath.

Oshiwara cops say that Azam met Kashinath at Pizza Hut, Lokhandwala, where the two had lunch and then got into Azams Toyota Qualis and headed towards MHADA Colony, Versova. Azam said he was upset with Kashinath, who used his police contacts to extract money from his father (Panchi).

Azam and his associates assaulted and shot Kashinath. Then the men wrapped the body in a gunny bag and took it to an isolated area near the outskirts of Lokhandwala Complex and dumped it in the creek, from where the body was recovered on Sept 13.

andheri@mid-day.com

I knew Kashinath: Salaskar

Senior inspector Vijay Salaskar says, I did know him, but he was not a friend. Kashinath used to visit my office with his problems and queries like several others. It was very sad to learn about his brutal death. The accused nabbed in this case has a criminal background.