30 January,2026 08:09 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
Alok Kumar Singh, the mathematics professor who was stabbed to death inside a local train at Malad. FILE PIC
Omkar Shinde (27), the prime accused in the murder of 31-year-old college professor Alok Kumar Singh at Malad railway station in Mumbai, was produced before the Borivali Metropolitan Magistrate Court for the second time as the Government Railway Police (GRP) sought his custody again. The court remanded Shinde in 12-day judicial custody.
Singh, a Kandivali resident and mathematics professor at a Vile Parle college, was fatally stabbed during a scuffle while alighting from a Churchgate-Borivali local train on the evening of January 24 at Malad station.
According to Borivali GRP, the murder weapon - a stainless-steel tweezer (chimta) commonly used by jewellers to hold tiny ornaments of gold, silver, and diamonds during polishing - has been recovered. Police have also seized the bloodstained clothes allegedly worn by the accused at the time of the crime.
A police source said the front tip of the tweezer was curved and sharp. When Shinde stabbed Singh, it penetrated the kidney, and the curved tip caused severe internal damage, leading to massive bleeding.
Advocate Jaywant Patil, appearing for the accused, told mid-day.com that since the police have already recovered the weapon and seized the bloodstained clothes, there was no justification for further custodial interrogation. "These points were placed before the court, following which the accused was remanded in judicial custody," Patil said.
Police sources said there is currently only one eyewitness - the victim's friend. Efforts are underway to identify additional witnesses. The Borivali GRP is scanning CCTV footage from Malad station to trace commuters who were present in the coach at the time of the incident.
Authorities are also trying to identify and locate a woman who was travelling in the same compartment, as a dispute involving her allegedly triggered the argument between Singh and the accused. The statement of the prime witness is expected to be recorded before the court soon, sources said.
As per railway records, the Churchgate-Borivali local arrived at Malad station at 5.45 pm on January 24. An altercation broke out near the train door as passengers were alighting, during which Singh was stabbed.
Railway staff and medical assistance reached the spot at 6 pm. The victim was rushed to Shatabdi Hospital in an ambulance, arriving at 6.25 pm, where he was declared dead.
A murder case has been registered at Borivali GRP, which continues to investigate.
