68-yr-old killed in Gamdevi flat

The murder came to light around 8.30 am when the man who delivered bread to the house found the collapsible front door to the flat open. He informed the security guards, who subsequently called the police.

Old wooden cupboards were found open and the belonging were strewn all over the rooms when the police arrived. The killer hadapparently rummaged through the belongings for valuables, the police said. Investigators, however, were unable to confirm the loss till late in the afternoon. A panchnama was being conducted to identify the belongings in the house.

The needle of suspicion points to a watchman, who proceeded on leave and left for his native village in Uttar Pradesh. The suspicion has stemmed from the fact that he was seen in the building even after he was granted leave from February 14.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police zone II Dr K Venkatesham told Express Newsline that a police party had been despatched to Uttar Pradesh to bring the suspect back for interrogation. However, he added, the case was wide open and the police were on the lookout for more clues.

Mehru Jussawalla stayed alone in her flat. Two elderly women were employed as domestic servants by her and they worked in three shifts. Neighbours said the victim was very cautious while dealing with strangers and that she seldom let anybody in withoutascertaining his/her identity. They expressed surprise that the killer managed to escape despite the tight security in the building. Visitors are allowed in the complex only after their identities are established.

Meanwhile, the police once again today requested all residents, particularly elderly people, to have the names and photographs of their servants registered at the nearest police station.