Solving Crime: How a pink dupatta from an autorickshaw helped Mumbai police solve a murder

Inspector Jeevan Bhatkule, who was part of the probe led by the zonal deputy commissioner of police and the senior inspector of Malwani police station, said that initially, no one identified the woman.

Later, after her photographs were circulated in the area, the woman was identified as a 46-year-old local sex worker. “Other sex workers in the area said she was last picked up by a person in an autorickshaw on the night she was murdered. We then started scanning CCTV cameras of the area where she was usually present,” Bhatkule said.

“While going through the footage, we found an auto in which the end of a pink dupatta was flying out. On zooming in further, it appeared that the woman was wearing the same pink salwar that the deceased had worn,” he added.

With the auto’s licence plate number in hand, the police contacted the auto unions to trace the driver. The auto was driven by Chandrapol Singh alias Neta, 34, who had come to Mumbai two weeks ago, the police learnt. However, when they arrived at his residence, Singh was nowhere to be found.

Multiple teams were formed. Soon, technical intelligence revealed that Singh was in Mathura. A team led by Assistant Police Inspector Prathamesh Vikhare left for Mathura and visited Singh’s relative’s place, where he was holed up.

On September 30, the police arrested Singh and charged him with rape and murder. During questioning, he allegedly told the police that he had an argument with the deceased over the money he owed her, following which he strangled her with her dupatta. On realising that she had died, Singh then dumped her on an isolated stretch and fled the city, a police official said.

At a recent event, the team that solved the case was honoured by Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, who highlighted their professionalism and prompt action.