Mumbai Police arrest 19-year-old for murder of retired loco pilot in Ghatkopar

Technical intelligence and informants led the police to the suspect, Aman Shriram Verma.

Ghatkopar Police late on Friday evening arrested a 19-year-old man for the alleged murder of a retired loco pilot in Mumbai, less than five hours after the crime was registered.

Sixty-five-year-old Surendra Dhonduram Pachadkar was found grievously injured and bleeding at CGS Colony in Ghatkopar around 9.44 pm on Thursday. He was rushed to Zainova Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

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As Pachadkar had suffered severe head injuries, it was initially suspected that he had met with an accident. However, the autopsy findings and an inspection of the spot confirmed that he had been murdered, prompting the police to register a first information report (FIR).

Following this, a multi-team pursuit was launched, with the crime team scanning 70-80 CCTV cameras across the area. Technical intelligence and informants led them to the suspect, Aman Shriram Verma, an unemployed resident of Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar, Ghatkopar.

During questioning, Verma reportedly confessed to attacking Pachadkar with an iron rod following an argument on the road. Police said he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. He has been arrested on the charge of murder.

Pachadkar, a resident of Triveni Society in Vikhroli (West), is survived by his wife Shubhangi and 34-year-old stepson, Akash Sathe. A recently retired loco pilot, he suffered from diabetes and kidney-related ailments and had been advised to walk regularly.

On Thursday evening, he left home at 7.30 pm for his routine walk.

Around 9.44 pm, Sathe received a call from the victim's phone informing him that an elderly man had been found injured in the area. When he rushed to the spot with his mother, police had already shifted Pachadkar to Zainova Hospital.

A 75-year-old eyewitness later told police that she saw a young man assault the victim on the head with a rod. When she raised an alarm, the attacker fled the spot.