Pallavi Purkayastha’s killer told J&K locals Mumbai police framed him in false case because he was poor

Mogul used to change jobs and houses regularly to evade the cops. He had recently picked up a job in Gagangir village, 300km from his house, where the government was building a tunnel

Sajjad Mogul, the security guard convicted for the 2012 murder of advocate Pallavi Purkayastha and who had jumped parole in February 2016, made sure the Mumbai police would not have it easy before they captured him from Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

Sajjad Mogul, a security guard, was convicted for the 2012 murder of advocate Pallavi Purkayastha. (FILE)

According to sources, Mogul had managed to convince the locals that he had been framed in a false case by the Mumbai police as he was poor. Consequently, the special team that was on the trail of Mogul for the past 18 months had to face hostility in the valley that even saw them caught in the middle of local residents pelting stones.

Earlier, the Nashik police had gone in search of Mogul in his native place and were surrounded by locals before the police there intervened and got them out safely from the village, said police officer.

The special police team, led by police inspector Sanjay Nikam, head constable Dayanand Kamble, police naik Sandeep Kamble and Sandeep Talekar, first began their probe by visiting Nashik central jail. After questioning the inmates who lived in Mogul’s barrack, the police learnt that he planned his escape for a long time. “Mogul told other inmates that he would not return once he would go out,” said Nikam.

The informant told the police that Mogul visited his house only once in three months and he used to live in his uncle’s place in Habad village, 4km away from his house, to avoid suspicion. He was working as a daily wage labourer and earned Rs250 a day.

Mogul used to change jobs and houses regularly to evade the cops. He had recently picked up a job in Gagangir village, 300km from his house, where the government was building a tunnel. He was hired by a contractor on a monthly salary of Rs12,000 and he was also provided accommodation nearby area, added Nikam.

As soon as the police got a tip-off that Mogul was in the village, they left for the place last week. They kept watch for two days and posed as tourists.

On Tuesday morning, when Mogul reported for work, the team stood a few metres away from him. After the police were convinced that he was the man they were looking for, he was arrested.

“I asked Mogul if he recognised me. He stared for a few seconds before nodding his head,” said Nikam, who had first arrested Mogul from Mumbai Central when he was about to board a train for J&K after the murder.

“I told him he will get more leaves to visit his family once he is in prison, so he should not create any problem. When we were bringing him to the airport, the locals started pelting stones because of some issues and we were in the middle of the crowd. We were scared as we thought that it would be trouble if Mogul screamed,” said Nikam, adding that the local police fired a few rounds in the air to control the situation and they soon left from there