Solving Crime: How a torn train ticket helped Mumbai cops solve a murder case

A preliminary probe revealed that Siddi, a Gujarat resident, used to frequent Mumbai occasionally and stayed at this house which belonged to one of his late relatives. When the police enquired with neighbours, they said that Siddi had come to Mumbai on February 28 along with a young man. Nobody knew anything about this youngster and he was nowhere to be seen after the incident. Siddi’s mobile phone was also missing.

While closely inspecting the crime scene, Police Inspector Padmakar Chavan stumbled upon a torn railway ticket in the garbage. The ticket was for a general compartment and was dated February 27 for a journey of two passengers between Ahmedabad and Mumbai Central.

Chavan wasted no time and sent a team to Ahmedabad railway station and asked them to check the video of the general compartment that RPF officials generally shoot to curb black marketing of railway tickets by agents. The police team only checked the videos of those Mumbai-bound trains that were scheduled to depart after the time Siddi purchased the ticket.

With the help of Siddi’s distant relative (who was sent to assist the police team), the police team spotted Siddi trying to board a train. A young person was seen with him but his face was not clear. Even the CCTV cameras had not managed to capture his face.

The police team then went to Siddi’s village, Mandal, in Viramgam city. On enquiring with the villagers, the police learnt that Siddi was poor and often borrowed money from people. Villagers told the police that a young Hanif was often seen with Siddi. When the police showed the villagers the image of the youngster in the Ahmedabad railway station video grab, they confirmed it was Hanif.

Hanif Diwan, 20, was a tyre mechanic staying in the same village. The police went to his house and caught him.

During police interrogation, Diwan allegedly admitted that he killed Siddi. According to the police, Diwan said that he had known Siddi for the past five years. Diwan had once bet money on cricket and when Siddi learnt of this, he allegedly blackmailed him and demanded Rs 10,000 and threatened to inform his father. Diwan allegedly told the police that he gave Siddi Rs 10,000 but Siddi never returned the money.

According to the police, in February, Diwan asked Siddi to return his money. Siddi asked him to accompany him to Mumbai and said he would return his money there. In Mumbai, when Diwan asked Siddi about the money, he allegedly ignored him and tried to change the topic. This angered Diwan who strangled Siddi to death using a belt, the police claimed.

Later, Diwan left the house, collecting all the items that could lead the police to him. This included Siddi’s phone which he allegedly threw in the river along with his own mobile while returning to his village. The torn railway ticket was left behind.