Bookies to be witnesses in Aditya killing

In connection with the kidnapping and murder of 13-year-old Aditya Ranka, son of a south Mumbai diamond broker, the VP Road police have found three bookies from Borivli who identified Brijesh Sanghvi as ‘Rakesh’.

In connection with the kidnapping and murder of 13-year-old Aditya Ranka, son of a south Mumbai diamond broker, the VP Road police have found three bookies from Borivli who identified Brijesh Sanghvi as ‘Rakesh’. Sanghvi, who allegedly murdered Ranka, in his phone calls to the victim’s family, had identified himself as Rakesh, the name he used for illegal betting on T20 league matches.

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The police said that they are questioning the three bookies and will make them witnesses in the case. The police have also learnt that Sanghvi owed them at least Rs10 lakh that he lost on bets. Following their arrests, Sanghvi and Himanshu Ranka (cousin of the deceased) confessed to the police that they committed the crime to repay the heavy losses they incurred betting on cricket matches.

Meanwhile, the police said that they are registering the witness statements. They will register the statement of the person from whom Sanghvi bought the knife used to murder Aditya.

Officials are also probing the involvement of more person in the case. “We have arrested the two accused and are questioning them to find out if anybody else who joined Sanghvi and assisted him in the murder. The case is sensitive and hence we are cross-checking everything multiple times,” said an officer of the VP Road police station. Sanghvi and Himanshu have been sent to police custody till May 24.