4 min readMumbaiSep 7, 2023 07:25 PM IST
First published on: Sep 4, 2023 at 12:42 PM IST
A 25-year-old air hostess was found murdered with her throat slit at her residence in a plush housing society in Mumbai on Monday, police said, adding that they have arrested a housekeeping staffer of the society who is suspected to have committed the crime while attempting to force himself on her.
According to police, the air hostess, Rupal Ogrey, originally from Chhattisgarh, arrived in Mumbai in April this year for her job with Air India. She lived in C-wing flat 306 in NG Complex Society, on K Marwah Road, Marol, along with her younger sister and sister’s boyfriend. However, they were not at home when the incident happened as they went to their village eight days ago.
A police source said that the accused Vikramsingh Atwal, 40, would visit flats in the society, pick up garbage and also clean toilets. He had visited Rupal’s flat several times in the past for such work.
Knowing that she was alone at home, Atwal went to her house on Sunday around 11am, on the pretext of cleaning toilet. Once he gained entry, he tried to take advantage of her being alone and tried to force himself on Rupal when she put up a strong resistance.
“Atwal had come prepared with a knife with the intention of scaring her if she resisted his attempt to force himself on her. However, during the scuffle, he slashed her throat when she collapsed, bleeding profusely. Atwal also sustained cuts on his hand,” said an officer part of the probe.
Atwal then cleaned the floor and escaped after shutting the door with autolock, police said. He went to his Powai-Tunga house and washed his clothes when his wife questioned him about the injuries. Atwal told her that he had a small accident while at work and was injured by broken glass pieces. After cleaning his clothes, Atwal visited a local doctor to treat his wounds, said another police officer.
According to Powai police, the matter came to light when Rupal’s family members tried to contact her over the phone on Sunday afternoon and got no response. They informed some of her friends who visited the flat and found that it was locked. As she did not respond to doorbell, they alerted police who opened the door using a duplicate key and found her in a pool of blood.
Under senior police officer’s guidance, DCP zone-10 Datta Nalawade asked Powai police officials to prepare a list of all 35-40 people who had access to Rupal’s flat that included her friends and staff servants.
“Our team started examining people on the list and found that Atwal was among the 4-5 housekeeping staff at the society. During the questioning Atwal could not give satisfactory answers about the fresh injuries on his face, head and hand. After sustained interrogation, he admitted to have committed the crime,” DCP Nalavde said adding his wife was also questioned.
Atwal’s movement was also captured on CCTV cameras installed in the society corroborating his involvement in the crime, the senior officer said adding the body has been sent to Rajawadi hospital for postmortem.
“Atwal’s intention was to take advantage of the woman who was alone and he went prepared. He had bought a big sharp knife from a shop in the locality. The shopkeeper’s statement would also be recorded along with the doctor to whom Atwal had visited for treating his injuries,” said another officer privy to the probe.
Atwal, originally from Punjab, had come to Mumbai around 12 years ago. He was living with his wife and two daughters. He joined as a housekeeping staffer at the Marol society just seven months ago. According to police, he was arrogant in nature and would often have verbal spats with flat members. He also had brief arguments with Rupal in the past, about which she had mentioned to her sister, police said.
Rupal spoke to her family on Sunday morning, police said adding the family has arrived in Mumbai to receive the body. Police will produce Atwal before the Andheri court on Tuesday and seek his custody for interrogation.
Rupal Ogrey was found dead earlier this week. 
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