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Suspended Odisha cop planned, executed Mumbai elderly couple’s murder
Sinhasan Mukuteka, one of the two arrested in connection with the murder of an elderly couple from Mumbai’s Bandra on Thursday, was a police constable in Odisha. While Mukuteka planned and executed the robbery and murders, the couple’s maid Parvati Khakha assisted him, say police.
Sinhasan Mukuteka, 28, one of the two arrested in connection with the murder of an elderly couple from Mumbai’s Bandra on Thursday, was a police constable in Odisha, investigation has revealed. While Mukuteka planned and executed the robbery and murders, Parvati Khakha, 20, the other arrested accused who worked as help with the couple, assisted him, said police.
Nanak Gopaldas Makhijani, 85, and Daya Makhijani, 71, lived with Khakha in a 3-BHK apartment on the first floor of Ekta Elite on 21st road in Bandra.
Mukuteka was suspended from service for his alleged involvement in the murder of his live-in partner — Priti Bahla, a resident of Beheradihi village of Nuapada district in Odisha — and was currently out on bail. He met Khakha at a wedding in Odisha and got engaged to her.
Khakha came to Mumbai to work with the Makhijanis, and called Mukuteka to the city. “She joined work on June 11 and Mukuteka reached Mumbai on June 19. Khakha opened the door for Mukuteka, who then tied the couple’s hands and legs, and smothered them,” said an officer.“Prima facie, it looks like the couple was strangled and then smothered. We are awaiting the medical reports,” said Anil Kumbhare, deputy commissioner of police (DCP).
Mukuteka entered the building when the watchman was asleep. With no CCTV cameras, nobody saw him enter or leave the society. “Khakha went missing after the murders came to light. Nobody knew anything about her. We used the data record of the area (tracking all numbers of the closest telephone tower to the residence) to get her number,” said a police source.
Sources told Hindustan Times that although her number was switched off, using the tower locations, the police found out that Khakha took a train to Odisha from Dadar at 6.15am. Sources told the police the couple went out for shopping and other work four times a week. With the CCTV footage from the area, they got Khakha’s photo, which was then handed over to the government railway police (GRP).
Khakha and Mukuteka, who were travelling by Gitanjali Express, were arrested from Nagpur railway station. They have been remanded in police custody till June 26. The police have recovered gold ornaments worth ₹10 lakh, including 28 gold bangles, 9 expensive watches, 9 gold rings and 44 gold earrings, from the duo.
