Neighbours of Sarfaraz Shaikh, better known as Raees Shaikh in Mamu Manzil, Koparkhairane, where he has rented a flat, recall him as someone always in a murderous rage. He had once even tried to kill one of them over a paltry Rs 800.

"Raees had run up a huge debt somehow. He had once tried to push me out of my fourth floor balcony over Rs 800. Thankfully, our society members intervened just in time," said Mehraj Shah, who used to be the accused's neighbour. Shah has since moved homes in fear of Sarfaraz.