Motive hazy,police want to brainmap main suspect

Verma,21,who works with a catering firm,was arrested on April 9,after a Mumbai Crime Branch parallel inquiry into the stolen phone led them to him.

Verma’s interrogation has not been able to corroborate the motive,and neither has he been able to confirm the sequence of events. Even the scene of crime was not corroborated,Borivali police said.

“We haven’t given him a clean chit yet. His brainmapping is crucial as it will help us decide if he was part of the conspiracy and its execution. For now things are not adding up,” said Mahesh Patil,Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 11).

“After he was handed over to us by the crime branch,we asked him about the stolen phone. He told us he picked up the phone from the roadside. On further interrogation Verma told us he purchased it from a stranger,” said Police Inspector Raju Adane,investigating officer,Borivali police station.

“Verma is an alcoholic who does odd jobs washing utensils for caterers. He has been changing his statement and it looks difficult to believe in any of his claims. We have given a written application for a brainmapping test,” added Adane.

“Usually even the hardest of criminals,though the deny the crime,eventually identify the crime scene once they confess. This man has neither given the right location nor details of the apartment correctly,” Adane said.

Verma allegedly named Jogeshwari resident Ajay Jadhav as an accomplice. “We arrested Jadhav but he is unable to corroborate details of the murder. Jadhav tells us he had a fight with Verma a few months ago. He suspects Verma might have named him to take revenge. We need to verify all these now,” said Adane.

“Verma claims he knows nothing about the gold-plated idol,which was believed to be the motive. In spite of them learning the idol wasn’t made of gold,they are unable to give any details. Even in the worst case,details emerge during interrogation. If Verma planned the murder or committed it,at some point he would have told something remotely relating to the murder” Adane added.

A senior crime branch officer from Unit 11 said,“We arrested Verma based on mobile phone location. On the day of his arrest,he never told us he found the phone on the road. We handed over Verma to local police for further probe. The local police are free to conduct a brainmapping test. We do not have a say on the matter,” said Adane.