Visiting card helps cops crack Mira Road murder

Mumbai: Not often does a small clue like a visiting card, lead to a blind murder case being solved, but for the Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Thane (rural) police, a tattered visiting card proved to be a useful tool in nabbing the alleged killers of a man whose decomposed body was found in Mira Road on July 30.

The visiting card was found in the victim’s pocket whose face was found to be smashed beyond recognition. The card turned out to be that of a local builder and helped the cops in establishing the identity of the deceased as Yunus Yusuf Shaikh, a 40-year-old electrician. The victim had gone missing from his residence near a flyover in Bhayandar. Later, Shaikh’s sister too identified the body from his clothes.

Investigations revealed that Shaikh used to work at local construction sites with his colleague, Sikander Udmiya Shaikh (38), a plumber from Kashimira. The police team led by PI Vyenkat Andhale and API Pramod Badakh detained Sikandar, who after two rounds of sustained interrogation confessed his crime. According to him, the murder was due to a monetary dispute.

Sikander also revealed the involvement of his accomplice, Mahamad Yusuf Mulla (35) alias Subhan, who too was arrested from his house in the Govind Nagar area of Mira Road.

A case has been registered under the sections 302 and 201 of the IPC, against the duo, who have been remanded to custody. Senior PI Vasant Labdhe is conducting further investigations into the case.