Malad murder was an insider job, say police

A day after 67-year-old Saroj Patel was found murdered in her Malad home, police were yet to name any suspects.

A day after 67-year-old Saroj Patel was found murdered in her Malad home, police were yet to name any suspects. However, they claimed that the person who killed Patel on Friday may have been an insider who knew the family well.

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"Based on circumstantial evidence, it appears that the accused was allowed into the house by Patel as there are no signs of forced entry. Knowing the kind of person Patel was, she would not allow anyone to enter the house in the afternoon, especially when she was alone at home," said an officer from Malad police, requesting anonymity.

The culprit also seemed to be familiar with the family's routine. "The accused entered the house barely some time after Patel's husband Raman went out to visit a local doctor. Raman had sustained an injury recently and had gone to get a CT scan done. Only someone who knows the family on a day-to-day basis would know such a thing, as it was not a fixed schedule," the officer explained.

"We have questioned several domestic help working in [Patel's] building, as well as labourers working at a construction site close by. We are also canvassing the area to see if anyone recollects seeing unknown persons around Patel's building," said police inspector RD Prabhu of Malad police station.