Two boys kill father’s friend to help him pay his debt, arrested

Just five days after Agrawal’s murder, his friend Narottam Chhajad (46) also went missing from his house. His wife, Rekha, had filed a missing report at Umra police station on July 12.

Working secretly on the case with the help of mobile phone data records, police had finally come to the conclusion that Chhajad was involved in the murder. After their arrest, Chhajad’s sons confessed to have killed Agrawal. The younger boy was sent to a remand home at Ghoddod road, even as both parents are absconding.

The 18-year old, in his statement to police, said, “My dad had debt of Rs 40 lakh from his friends and money lenders and he was unable to pay to them and was facing threat from them. Manoj uncle and my dad were good friends for the last ten years. One day, my father told me and my younger brother that if they killed Manoj uncle, they could get the money to pay money lenders.”

As per the plan, Narottam called Agrawal to his home on July 8. After he had tea, the two sons attacked Agrawal and killed him.

Narottam’s wife was not present in the house when the murder happened. Narottam later wrapped Agrawal’s dead body in a bedsheet and kept it in his car. He took his wife and both the children and later disposed of the dead body in a field.”

Surat district Superintendent of police Pradip Shejul said, “Narottam had taken out three blank cheques totalling Rs 10 lakh from Agrawal’s pocket, out of which he had encashed Rs 2 lakh. Narottam felt that he would not come under the scanner of police, but his mobile phone location and that of the deceased were on the same spot. We have arrested Narottam’s eldest son while his youngest son has been sent to juvenile home. Narottam and his wife are still at large and we will arrest them soon.”

Police sources said that the older son had completed his Class 12 and was preparing for IELTS to study abroad. His younger brother is studying in Class 10.