Sacked worker killed 65-year-old shop owner in Mumbai, detained

The police found that a former employee Ashok who was fired two months ago had come to the shop and fought with her over his salary a few days before the murder.

A man who used to work at a ration shop in Govandi and his accomplice were detained on Sunday for allegedly killing a 70-year-old woman, who owned the shop, and stealing gold and cash worth Rs4 lakh from her house, that has above the shop. 

The Shivaji Nagar police said they received call from Sudarshan, victim Bhanumati Gupta’s husband, on Saturday saying one of their employees had found her lying in a pool of blood with her throat slit at the ration shop.

Bhanumati and Sudharshan run two shops in the area. A few days ago her son left for their village in Banaras and Bhanumati decided to sit at the shop. Sudharshan was at the shop till 4pm and then went to the other shop. Bhanumati’s body was found around 5.30pm. Police said one of their employees entered the shop and when he saw Bhanumati on the floor, he alerted Sudarshan and they subsequently informed the police.

Officials said Bhanumati was stabbed in the neck with a sharp weapon. She was rushed to Rajawadi Hospital where she was declared dead. 

The police said that after registering a case, they started investigating if she had enmity with someone. They found that a former employee Ashok who was fired two months ago, had come to the shop and fought with her over his salary a few days before the murder. 

On questioning Ashok, he confessed to the crime and revealed the name of his accomplices as well. 

The police have detained Ashok and Rahul for murder and robbery. “We will arrest them soon,” said an officer. “The motive of the murder was robbery according to our investigation. The couple stays on the first floor while their shop is located on the ground floor. After the murder, Ashok and his accomplice went to her house and stole jewellery that she had kept for her granddaughter’s upcoming wedding,” added the officer.