Blood spots found in Kakkad's bathroom

Investigators have found congealed blood in the bathroom drain of small-time producer Karan Kumar Kakkad's Lokhandwala home.

Investigators have found congealed blood in the bathroom drain of small-time producer Karan Kumar Kakkad's Lokhandwala home.

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Crime branch officials said the traces of blood confirmed Vijay Palande's claims that he and his associates had cut Kakkad's body into pieces inside the bathroom.

"However, the blood samples have been sent to the Kalina Forensic Laboratory for DNA tests," a senior crime branch officer said on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Also, the police have recovered a torso suspected to be of Kakkad from Kumbharli Ghat near Chiplun, the officer said, adding that the body had also been sent for DNA analysis.

Over the weekend, a team had taken Palande to the spot where the torso was buried. "This is the same location from where we had earlier recovered a mutilated head and bones from the rib cage," the officer said.

"We are yet to recover the legs," he added.

Earlier, the police were worried that their case would be weakened in court as they had been able to find only a few body parts. "But the recovery of the torso and the blood samples have strengthened our case against the accused. We are just waiting for the reports of the DNA tests," the officer said.

Palande had told the police that on the evening of March 6 he and his two associates had initially drugged Kakkad before killing him at his home in Oberoi Springs. They then hacked the body in the bathroom, packed the pieces in plastic bags and dumped the bags at Kumbharli Ghat.

"As per our investigation, we have found that Kakkad owed Palande money and that was the main reason behind the murder," the officer said.