The arrested suspects told the crime branch that Zota had allegedly sexually exploited a 19-year-old woman who was in love with one of the accused, and had also tried to exploit the woman’s 12-year-old sister.
The Mumbai crime branch on Thursday arrested two persons in the murder case of Bharatiya Janata Patry (BJP) worker Vasantlal Zota, killed on February 19. The arrested suspects told the crime branch that Zota had allegedly sexually exploited a 19-year-old woman who was in love with one of the accused, and had also tried to exploit the woman’s 12-year-old sister when the two suspects barged in and killed him.
According to joint commissioner of police, crime, Himanshu Roy, Zota was found murdered in his office in Priyadarshini society in Dharavi soon after the BMC elections giving rise to speculations that his murder could have a political motive. “Our investigations revealed that it was not a political murder. A woman Poonam, 19, who used to visit Zota regularly in his office had complained to her boyfriend Mohammed Khalil, 26, an Antop Hill resident that she was sexually exploited by Zota,” said a senior crime branch officer.
He added Poonam told Khalil that Zota also took advantage of other poor girls in the area and used to offer money and grains from his ration shop. “Poonam further told Khalil that Zota had asked her to bring her 12-year-old sister in his office. This enraged Khalil who asked Poonam to take her sister to Zota and then open the door from inside so that he can gain entry in the office,” said Roy.
Khalil, a welder then fabricated a commando type knife and also involved with him his friend Mohammed Tala, 19. “On the day of the incident, as per the plan, Poonam went to Zota’s office in the afternoon with her sister and then as planned opened the door for the two to enter once Zota took her sister in the bedroom inside. Khalil after we arrested him told us that he got furious when he saw Zota with Poonam’s sister in a compromising position. At this point the two stabbed Zota thrice, leaving him dead on the spot. The four then took Rs10.200 lying in Zota’s office, his mobile phone and the office keys from the spot, all of which has been seized along with the murder weapon,” he said.
“We are seeking legal advice whether to make the two girls too accused in the case. Khalil also has a murder case registered against him in Karnataka,” said additional commissioner, Deven Bharti.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}