Trader's murder: Former staffer, her friend detained

Two persons were detained by the police on Wednesday for the murder of BJP party worker Vasantlal Jhota, 52.

Two persons were detained by the police on Wednesday for the murder of BJP party worker Vasantlal Jhota, 52. While a team from Dharavi police is interrogating a woman who was earlier employed at Jhota's office, the crime branch has detained a friend of the women in connection with the murder. Jhota was found dead in his Dharavi office on Sunday.

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"Statements given by Jhota's friends hinted at the involvement of the former employee. When we went to question her, we found out that she was missing since the day Jhota was murdered," said an officer from the Dharavi, requesting anonymity.

The police traced the woman's location to Uttar Pradesh and a team was dispatched after her. "She has been detained for questioning in UP and will be brought to the city," the officer said.

The crime branch, which was conducting a parallel investigation in the case, detained a man from Antop Hill who is closely related to the former employee. "While the woman was no longer working for Jhota, the two communicated with each other frequently," the officer said. Though police are yet to establish the motive behind the murder, they have, to a great extent, ruled out political or professional rivalry as a provocation.