Thane police crack contract killing case, victim’s brother among four arrested

Representational image. File pic

Thane police on Sunday, May 17, uncovered a "contract killing" plot and arrested four persons, including the victim's younger brother. As per the officials, the accused allegedly hired the assailants and lodged the complaint to mislead investigators and hide his role in the murder.

News agency PTI reported that the victim, identified as Paresh Tolaram Patil (40), was hacked to death on May 12 over a property dispute, and his brother allegedly paid Rs 10 lakh to the contract killers.

An official, while briefing about the case, said that on the same day, Naresh Tolaram Patil (37), an auto-rickshaw driver residing in Bhiwandi, lodged a police complaint alleging that his elder brother Paresh had been murdered by unidentified persons.

Superintendent of Police Anmol Mittal said, "According to Naresh, his brother was riding his motorcycle to work at Vasai in the neighbouring Palghar district when the unidentified assailants intercepted him and assaulted him with sharp weapons," as cited by PTI.

Following the complaint, the Ganeshpuri police registered a case of murder on May 13. Furthermore, the investigation teams examined several CCTV recordings along the suspected escape routes and used advanced technical surveillance.

Four accused arrested by Thane police

The official also highlighted that the police then traced the registration plate of a vehicle allegedly used by the assailants, leading to the arrest of three alleged contract killers, Rakesh Bhagwan Patil (37), Premjit Madhukar Gharat (38), and Daksh Bhanukant Bhoir (24), from Palghar, as per PTI.

An official from Thane Police Station also added, "During intense interrogation, the three persons confessed to their involvement in the killing. They revealed that the plot was masterminded by the victim's brother, Naresh Patil, who had lodged the initial police complaint to misguide the law enforcement agencies."

Following the investigation, Naresh Patil confessed to hatching the conspiracy due to an ongoing property dispute with his elder brother and that he had offered Rs 10 lakh to the three accused to eliminate Paresh.

The officials further added that Naresh Patil has also been arrested, and a further probe is underway into the case.

(With inputs from PTI)