The deceased were identified as Babli Shaw, Aman Shaikh (13) and Saniya Shaikh (10). The family lived in a chawl in Malwani.
The bodies of a 50-year-old woman and her grandchildren – aged 13 and 10 – were found at their Malwani home early on Thursday. The trio had been stabbed to death, the police said. They have also recovered a bloodstained knife.
The deceased were identified as Babli Shaw, Aman Shaikh (13) and Saniya Shaikh (10). The family lived in a chawl in Malwani. While Shaw lived on the ground floor with her grandchildren, the top two floors had been given on rent.
According to the police, the incident took place between 1:30am and 4am. Around 10:30am, a neighbour paid a visit to Shaw's house and saw the bodies inside. He then informed other locals, who immediately alerted the police.
According to sources, Shaw, a native of West Bengal, had shifted to Mumbai years ago. Her daughter Tulsi (later known as Afsa Shaikh) married Ismail Shaikh, who runs a fish stall in Malwani. After Saniya's birth, Afsa died of jaundice, following which Shaw took on the responsibility of the two kids. Shaikh married another woman and now lives with his wife and son Ayan (3) in the close vicinity.
A relative of Shaw said, "After Afsa's death, a property dispute broke out between Shaw and Shaikh. Shaw had earlier worked as a property agent and also used to lend money. She had given two floors of her house on rent, so that the money could be used for the upbringing of her grandchildren. Shaikh was aware that she had sold some plots in West Bengal and often quarrelled with her over property."
After receiving the information, the police also questioned Shaikh. They informed that the locals last saw Aman and Saniya on Thursday around 12.15am, while they were returning home after playing in the neighbourhood.
Shaw, too, was awake at the time and was seen by some talking on the phone.
"The assailant/s is believed to have used the rear door, as there were no signs of forced entry. The crime was committed using a knife kept inside the kitchen. It seems some scuffle took place between Shaw and the attacker. After murdering Shaw, the attacker slit the children's throats," said a police officer.
Speaking about the matter, assistant commissioner of police Shrirang Nadgauda said, "We have recovered the murder weapon from the spot. Bodies have injuries on their chests, backd and heads."
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