An 18-year-old boy was murdered on the streets of Kurla on Monday night, following an argument with a local sweeper over the alleged theft of a mobile phone.

The incident took place at 11.40 pm, after the teenage victim Sunil Kumar Gupta was accosted by the 38-year-old accused Sushil Tanaji Thete, who claimed that the boy had stolen his mobile phone. According to locals, Thete was a drug addict and was trying to extort money from Gupta. They added that the accused was notorious for catching hold of locals, accusing them of stealing his valuables, and demanding money from them.