Maharashtra: Charred remains help cops crack Mumbai murder; man, his girlfriend held

The investigation was launched after the remains of the deceased were found, an official said. Representational Pic/File

Two suspects, including a man and his girlfriend, was held for allegedly murdering a man in north Mumbai and transporting his body to Chiplun in Maharashtra's Konkan region for disposal.

The investigation was launched after the remains of one Ejaz Qureshi - who was reportedly killed in Malad in November last year - were discovered on Tuesday, officials said, reported the PTI.

The police recovered charred remains in a mango orchard in Awatewadi village of Rampur area in Chiplun, including bones, a ring, and an iron rod lodged in the victim's leg.

According to the PTI, within 24 hours of the discovery, authorities identified Vishal Khoddekar and his girlfriend Jannatunisa Khan as suspects. Khoddekar allegedly confessed to assaulting Qureshi during a financial dispute, resulting in his death.

The conflict reportedly arose after Khan rented a property from Qureshi, paid a high deposit, and later demanded her money back.

Attempt to destroy evidence

According to the police, Khoddekar later returned to Chiplun upon discovering the exposed body and set it on fire using diesel in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Both Khoddekar and Khan have been remanded in police custody for six days while the investigation continues.

Mumbai Police nabs man accused in attempt to murder case after 45 years

Meanwhile, in an another incident, a 72-year-old man was arrested from Sangli after being on the run for 45 years in an attempt to murder case registered in Mumbai, a police official said on Thursday, reported the PTI.

The Trombay police station official identified the accused as Popat Govind Vaydande, who was held from Ambegaon in Kadegaon taluka.

The attempt to murder case registered in 1981 was recently reopened after a court sought a search report and directed absconder Vaydande to appear before it, the official said.

"Our subsequent probe found he was externed from Mumbai in 1981. A tip off led police to Shenoli in Satara, where he once lived with a woman. This 74-year-old woman was found living in a hut under a railway bridge in Shenoli. She had left Vyadande due to the latter's alcoholism. Her daughter told police he might be in Sangli," the official said, according to the PTI.

Vaydande was arrested from a field, and his identity was confirmed through a voter's ID card, the official added.

(with PTI inputs)