Head constable arrested for murdering Thane landlord

A head constable from the Thane anti-extortion cell, who allegedly killed an 87-year-old landlord, was arrested on Sunday morning.

A head constable from the Thane anti-extortion cell, who allegedly killed an 87-year-old landlord, was arrested on Sunday morning.

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Allegedly, a drunk Ravi Parab, 45, hit Waman Madhvi, a Ram Maruti Road resident, with a rock on the head at a vacant plot owned by the deceased on Saturday. Parab managed to escape whereas Madhvi died on his way to the hospital.

“We arrested Parab from Thane around 1:30am. Though he has not said much, our preliminary investigation reveals that the accused and the deceased knew each other and that Parab had been pressurising Madhvi, who owns several plots in Thane, to sell the vacant plot,” said deputy commissioner of police (Zone I) Dattatray Mandlik.

“He must have been making the demand at the behest of a developer or builder. Also, the plot is co-owned by Madhvi and seven of his brothers. Four of them are stepbrothers. The plot is worth a lot of money. So, we are investigating from all possible angles,” said deputy commissioner of police (Zone I) Dattatray Mandlik.

Parab joined the police force in 1985 and has been with the Thane Police Commissionerate since then. He has worked in various police stations like Naupada, Thane Nagar and even in the control room in Ulhasnagar. He has been with the anti-extortion cell since 2007.

“In 1995, Parab was booked under section 341 of the Indian Penal Code for wrongful restraint. He was suspended for a year-and-a half but was brought back after the court’s acquittal,” Mandlik said. Parab was produced in court and has been remanded in police custody till April 14.