The 35-year-old art director Krishnendu Chouwdhury, whose body was found in a creek in Virar on Friday, was allegedly killed by his friend. Police sources said one of the complainants who registered the missing person complaint was the killer, and the motive was non-payment of money. He has been arrested. However, police are yet to arrest his two accomplices.

Chouwdhury's friends Chinmoy Mandal and Mohammed Furkan Shaikh had registered the missing complaint on August 8. Police sources said Shaikh allegedly killed Chouwdhury in his godown at Bhati village in Madh Island on August 7, with the help of two of his friends (police suspect they are his relatives), and later dumped the body in Virar. Police sources said during interrogation, Shaikh confessed to the crime and revealed the names of the other accused. They said there was a dispute over money between the duo.