Man murders tenant for staying in his ‘ancestral flat’

Irked with the sale of his ancestral house, a Borivli resident allegedly stabbed a 59-year-old woman, who was staying on rent in the flat, in front of her daughter. The accused, Rajesh Rathod, 51, has been arrested.

Irked with the sale of his ancestral house, a Borivli resident allegedly stabbed a 59-year-old woman, who was staying on rent in the flat, in front of her daughter. The accused, Rajesh Rathod, 51, has been arrested.

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After his brother sold the flat at Nilkamal Society in Borivli (West) , the new landlord gave it on rent to the victim, Vinita Menon. Rathod, too, lived in the same society.

On Saturday evening, Rathod accosted Menon and her daughter Puja outside the flat. He asked Menon to show the documents of the flat. When Menon tried to escape, Rathod stabbed her, Puja told the police.

On hearing Menon’s screams, neighbours informed the police, after which Rathod was taken into custody. “Rathod disapproved of the flat being given on rent,” said an officer from Borivli police station. “Earlier too Rathod had been arrested for assaulting a society member and has served a jail term,” said the officer.

The police are interrogating Rathod and also plan to speak to his relatives and residents of the society.