Cops bank on fingerprints to nail killers

To strengthen evidence against Vijay Palande and his associates in the Arun Tikku and Karan Kakkad murder cases, the Mumbai crime branch would be scrutinising the fingerprints found on the weapons recovered from Kumbharli ghat.

To strengthen evidence against Vijay Palande and his associates in the Arun Tikku and Karan Kakkad murder cases, the Mumbai crime branch would be scrutinising the fingerprints found on the weapons recovered from Kumbharli ghat.

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A crime branch official said the weapons had been used by Palande and his associates to kill Kakkad.

The official also said that the crime branch had rejected the confessional statement given by accused Dhananjay Shinde, as Shinde was purportedly trying to absolve Palande of the crimes and take the blame on himself. “We have enough evidence in both cases and our effort is to strengthen the case. So we don't need Shinde's statement… he is trying to misguide the police and weaken the case,” the official said.

The police would also be using Anuj Tikku as a witness in the case of his father Arun's murder. “He was the one who signed the lease agreement with Palande and hence his statement and testimony would be crucial,” the official said.

Police also revealed that Palande’s lavish lifestyle was funded by his German wife Nibis Legenza who sent him money every month.