Vikhroli murder: Neighbour’s testimony helped crack case

It did not take long for senior inspector Praful Bhosale of crime branch's anti-robbery cell to zero in on the profile of the killer after he visited the crime scene. What he needed was a match. Debasish Panigrahi reports.

It did not take long for senior inspector Praful Bhosale of crime branch's anti-robbery cell to zero in on the profile of the killer after he visited the crime scene. What he needed was a match.

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"Our investigators were sure that the killer was known to the Kamble since there was no sign of violence in the room, except for the brutality with the victim," joint commissioner of police (crime) Himanshu Roy said.

Bhosale's team then began picking up the deceased's acquaintances for questioning. However, Laxmibai Dangle, who was her best friend and even appeared to be in profound grief at her funeral, was to be found nowhere. The police then learnt that she had got herself admitted to a hospital after the murder. The police became suspicious and began questioning her.

"We found contradictions in her claims and those made by Kamble's neighbour whose cooking gas was fixed by Dangle hours before the murder. While Dangle claimed Kamble had fixed the gas, the neighbour insisted it was the former," Roy added. The contradiction strengthened suspicion and she was put through sustained questioning. "She finally broke down and confessed to the crime," Roy said.