Two vegetable vendors held for murder of extortionist

The victim was identified as Sanjay Solankhi,who had assault cases registered against him.

Four days after an unidentified man was found murdered in a drain at suburban Kanjurmarg,police today claimed to have cracked the case with the arrest of two vegetable venders,who allegedly killed the victim as he was extorting money from them.

The victim was identified as Sanjay Solankhi (20),a resident of suburban Ghatkopar,who had assault cases registered against him in Pant Nagar police station.

Solankhi was found with his throat slit in the drain at Kanjurmarg on Saturday. Initially he could not be identified. The investigators clicked the body’s photos and circulated among their informers after which the victim was identified,police said.

Acting on a tip off,the vegetable venders Rajesh Yadav (30) and Rajesh Renuse (22) — both residents of Ghatkopar area — were picked up for questioning.

“During thorough grilling,the duo confessed to have killed Solankhi as he had begun extorting money from vegetable venders at Hingawale Lane market,” a crime branch officer said.

Fed up of Solankhi’s extortion acts,the duo conspired to eliminate him. The two took him to Somaiyya ground on the pretext of playing “garba” and served him alcohol till he lost complete control on October 24 night.

Later,Solankhi was taken to Kanjurmarg in an auto rickshaw before his throat was slit,police said adding that “as the victim did not die after his throat was slit,the two drowned him in the drainage before escaping from the spot.”

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