How a bloodstain in a car led Mumbai police to solve the Kirti Vyas murder case

An officer said they were sweeping through the CCTV footage from the female colleague's building compound where her car—in which Vyas was murdered—was parked.

Search operations launched by police for the body of Kirti Vyas (inset) in May 2018 (Express Photo by Pradip Das)

The Kirti Vyas (27) murder case, in which two individuals were convicted by the sessions court on Monday, was a challenging puzzle for investigating officers. However, a stroke of luck in the form of a bloodstain found in the boot of a car belonging to Vyas’ colleague at B Blunt provided a crucial breakthrough that cracked the case open.

Vyas’ female colleague and another colleague Siddhesh Tamhankar, were convicted in connection with the case. While the police had been keeping a close watch on the duo since Vyas disappeared, concrete evidence eluded them until a forensic report provided the necessary proof.

An officer said they were sweeping through the CCTV footage from the female colleague’s building compound where her car—in which Vyas was murdered—was parked. “On the day of the murder, she parked her car in her building compound with Vyas’ body lying in the boot. A few hours later, she took the car out again and returned a while later. This time, however, the car appeared to have been washed which made us suspicious,” said an IPS officer who oversaw the probe.

Realising the significance of this observation, the officer instructed the team to seize the car from the building and promptly send it to the Kalina forensic lab for a thorough examination. The subsequent discovery of a bloodstain in the boot of the car provided the first glimmer of hope in the investigation.

Also Read | Went missing after she left for work: How Kirti Vyas murder took place

The next challenge was to obtain DNA samples from the Vyas family without alerting them, as they clung to the hope that she may still be alive. Employing a fabricated story, the police successfully obtained a sample from Vyas’ mother.

“The DNA from the bloodstain in the car matched with that of Kirti’s mother, conclusively indicating that Kirti’s body had been present in the boot,” the officer explained. “This breakthrough paved the way for the arrest of the suspects.”

The then DCP Dilip Sawant said, ” I am happy our effort paid off and the duo were convicted even though Kirti’s body was not found. The sequence of events—from the duo picking up Kirti from her residence on the day she went missing, the DNA test, the fact that Tamhankar was to be fired on that day—all fit in well to prove the murder,” Sawant said.

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Sanjay Saxena, the then joint commissioner (crime) said, “Our team’s scientific and professional probe helped gather strong evidence and solve the case. Apart from our officers, credit is also due to the legal staff during the trials which helped prove the case in the court of law.”

Mohamed Thaver

Mohamed Thaver is a highly specialized journalist with the Expertise and Authority required to report on complex law enforcement and legal issues. With a career dedicated to the crime beat for over a decade, his work provides readers with informed and trustworthy insights into Maharashtra's security and justice systems. Experience & Authority Core Focus: Has been exclusively covering the crime beat for over a decade, building deep, specialized knowledge in the field. Geographical Authority: Currently focuses heavily on law enforcement and policy in Maharashtra, providing authoritative coverage of the state's security apparatus. Key Beats: Law Enforcement: Reports on the operations of the Maharashtra Police and the Mumbai Crime Branch. Policy & Administration: Covers the Maharashtra Home Department, focusing on policy matters related to handling law and order and the evolution of the police force. Judiciary: Has significant past experience covering the courts, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the entire criminal justice process from investigation to verdict. Specialized Interest (Cyber & Forensics): Demonstrates Expertise in modern investigative techniques, with a keen focus on cyber crime and forensics, reporting on how these technologies assist complex crime investigations. Content Focus: His reports revolve around police probes, the evolution of the force, and state policy, ensuring his content is highly relevant and detailed. Credentials & Trustworthiness Mohamed Thaver’s long-standing specialization in the crime beat—combined with his focus on technological aspects like cyber crime and his direct coverage of major institutions like the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Maharashtra Home Department—underscores his Trustworthiness and status as an expert source for detailed and reliable journalism on law and order. He tweets @thaver_mohamed ... Read More

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