More suspects in killing of diamond merchant’s son

The VP Road police investigating the kidnapping and murder of Aditya Ranka, son of a south Mumbai-based diamond merchant, are suspecting involvement of more people in the 13-year-old’s killing.

The VP Road police investigating the kidnapping and murder of Aditya Ranka, son of a south Mumbai-based diamond merchant, are suspecting involvement of more people in the 13-year-old’s killing.

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According to the police, the two accused, Himanshu Ranka, the victim’s cousin, and Brijesh Sanghvi, had earlier planned to use Himanshu’s car, but then opted for a friend’s Honda City.

“We suspect somebody may have assisted Sanghvi while executing the murder,” said Rajendra Chavan, senior inspector, VP Road police station.

Aditya’s semi-charred body was found about 6km from Pan-vel near the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Tuesday evening.

The duo had planned the kidnapping for a ransom of Rs. 30 lakh so they could pay off the debts they incurred from cricket betting.

“They [the accused] were into illegal betting for the last six years and had incurred heavy losses,” Chavan said.

Both accused said they had done their MBA.

While Himanshu claimed he did his MBA from Wigan and Leigh College in Lower Parel, Sanghvi did the course from a Bangalore-based college, the police said.