RTI activist’s murder: Police custody of 2 accused extended till October 28

A crime branch source said the accused are refusing to divulge details of their accomplices and hence further interrogation is a must

Police custody of former corporater Razzak Khan (78) and his son Amjad (53), arrested for their involvement in the murder of RTI activist Bhupendra Vira, has been extended till October 28. A crime branch source said the accused are refusing to divulge details of their accomplices and hence further interrogation is a must.

Bhupendra Vira, a 61-year-old RTI activist, was shot dead at his Kalina residence in Mumbai on October 15. (File photo)

Read: 61-year-old RTI activist shot dead in Mumbai

RTI activist murder: Police recover car used by accused

So far, the investigation has revealed that Amjad met Razzak before murdering Vira. However, cops are yet to find incriminating evidence to nail Razzak’s involvement in the crime. The cops have collected forensic evidence from Vira’s residence behind Kalina mosque, which includes his clothes and have despatched it to Kalina forensic lab for further analysis.

“We have informed the lab official to prepare the report on priority-basis,” said a crime branch officer.

The case

Vira was watching television at his residence when he was shot in the head by Amjad on October 15 at 9.30pm. Police arrested Razzak and Amjad within 24 hours of the murder. During investigation, four witnesses claimed they saw Amjad in the area at the time of the murder. CCTV cameras installed near Vira’s home showed Amjad parking his car at a distance from his residence. He was seen getting out of the car before the murder and returning to the car later, said an official.

During interrogation, Amjad confessed to the crime and said that he was enraged after his family received demolition notices, and decided to kill Vira. He fired a single round at Vira and fled the spot. The pistol used in the crime, 12 live rounds, the footage of several CCTV cameras installed in the vicinity and Amjad’s car, a Chevrolet Beat, were confiscated and sent for analysis to the Kalina forensics lab.