Abducted factory owner found burnt to death in Palghar

The charred body of the 39yearold businessman who was abducted on Thursday in Palghar was found from forest land in the district on Monday the police said The police have arrested three people including the deceaseds business rivalA forensic team will visit the spot where Shaikhrsquos body was found and collect samples for analysis The police will hand over Shaikhs remains to his family after a forensic examinationPrashant Sankhe and his two accomplices kidnapped Arif Shaikh while he was on the way to his factory and smothered him with a handkerchief police said They then drove to the forest in Palghar and burnt his body After disposing off Shaikhs body they went to the house of Prashants relative where they changed the vehicle and fled to GujaratPrashant SankheSources told midday that Sankhe had switched off his cell phone and taken a new number and mobile phone to contact his relatives A police officer said Prashant Sankhe and Chinnu alias Samdev Sankhe were arrested from Vapi in Gujarat The third accused Prashant Mahajan was arrested from Jalgaon in MaharashtraThe police have also detained Smita Shetty a close friend of Prashant Sankhe for questioning Prashant Sankhe worked at Shaikhs Alpha Metals before starting his own business which incurred lossesAlso ReadMumbai Crime Youth commits suicide after roommates strip him nude blackmail himShaikh used to supply machine parts from a company where Shetty was a manager Shaikh found out that Shetty was stealing money from her company and informed her employer Shaikh had complained about Shetty to her employer and she was sacked Since Prashant Sankhe and Shetty were good friends they planned to eliminate Shaikh In the past too Prashant Sankhe had threatened Shaikh said Gaurav Singh Superintendent of Police Palghar district The police are likely to make more arrests in the caseShaikh is survived by his wife two children and elderly parents who live in Mira RoadAfter killing Shaikh the kidnappers called their friends to the secluded forest land where they reached on motorcycle with cans of diesel to burn the body Police have finally arrested the lady Smita Shetty who was detained for questioning after cops found her involvement in the sensitive case The cops have collected the charred bones of Shaikh and the forensic team will collect the DNA sample of the relative of deceased to match with the skeletal remainsAlso ReadMan held for growing marijuana says he didnt know it was illegal in PalgharTop News Stories Of The DayMumbai Crime Man rapes critical patients HIV sister on Sion Hospital roofRising carrom star Janhavi More run over by speeding truck in DombivliBMC to put Marine Drive under the radarMumbai Cops fight accuseds lies with biometric systemNew BMC chief Pravin Pardeshi tackles rain road and revenue on Day 1Sit on a machaan and spot animals all night at Sanjay Gandhi National ParkPMs proposer spells out her dreams for VaranasiMumbai Turf Club calls for meeting on consent terms for GallopsElections 2019 Milind Deoras Jain comment violative says ECMumbai Government officer jumps from 30th floor of World Trade CentreMumbai Crime Cops crack down on online escort services arrest twoIts final Jaslok Trust will continue to run hospital says CEOA walk through Mohammed Ali Roads Khau GalliExpensive things Mukesh Ambani spends onCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates