Dreaded criminal arrested for cable operator's murder

Nearly three weeks after a cable operator was found robbed and murdered on railway tracks near Matunga station, city police today claimed to have cracked the case with the arrest of a dreaded criminal.
The accused Abu Bakar Shaikh, who has several criminal cases registered against him, was arrested from the city, while two others are still wanted in the case, police said.
According to Crime Branch Unit V, the body of an unidentified person was found on the tracks between Matunga and Sion railway stations on December 14, following which an FIR was registered at Dadar Government Railway Police station.

During the probe, the victim was identified as Mahendra Rajput (45), a cable operator in Dadar.
According to police, Rajput often used to play cards at a club in Dharavi area. On December 13, he had gone to the club and did not return home that night.
Throwing light on the circumstances that led to Rajput's death, police said when the victim was going back to his place on December 13 night after playing cards, Shaikh and two accomplices caught hold of him in Matunga area. The trio then strangulated him before robbing him of gold ornaments and rings he had worn.

"The arrested accused has admitted to committing the crime to rob the victim. The trio killed Rajput before throwing the body on the nearby railway tracks so that the train runs over him and it would look like a suicide case," Kulkarni said.
"However, railway police received information about a person lying unconscious on the tracks. When he was taken to hospital, he was declared dead. His identity was established later," he said.
The intention of the accused was to rob Rajput, Kulkarni said adding, "We handed over the accused to Dadar Railway Police, which has placed him under arrest.