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Monika Ghurde murder: Former security guard held in Bengaluru

Goa police kept a tab on the accused during his journey through Maharashtra and Karnataka on the basis of his ATM transactions.

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The Goa police on Sunday arrested the alleged killer of well-known perfumer and designer Monika Ghurde from Bengaluru. The accused, Punjab native Rajkumar Singh, used to work as security guard at the housing society in Goa's Sangolda, where Monika was staying. Monika (39), nicknamed the First Lady of Smell, was found dead in her rented flat last Thursday night.

What helped the police crack the case was an ATM transaction, 3 km from the scene of the crime, and the security guard verification process. After the crime, two persons were caught on CCTV camera at an ATM in Porvorim withdrawing money using Monika's card. They also withdrew money in Bengaluru using the same card. The police had earlier learnt from the crime scene that the perfumer's mobile phone and ATM card had been stolen.

"We investigated about the watchmen and security guards enrolled with the housing complex. While going through the documents, we got some information about Rajkumar Singh. Singh was sacked three months before the murder, after residents made some complaints against him," superintendent of police (North Goa), Umesh Gaonkar, told dna.

"We compared the photograph affixed in the police verification documents with the ATM footage at Porvorim and Bengaluru and found them to be similar. That confirmed he was in Bengaluru. Our team went there and arrested Singh on Sunday afternoon. Singh has admitted to the crime," said Gaonkar.

As to the motivation of the crime, he said: "It can be said only after a thorough interrogation of Singh." At the time of death, Monika was found naked with her hands tied to the bed. According to preliminary investigations, the cause of death was asphyxia due to compression of mouth and neck.

Asked whether Monika was sexually assaulted, Gaonkar said: "Opinion on this can be given only after medical reports." The police are on the look-out for one more person, allegedly involved in the crime.
 

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