Carter Rd killers wanted a bike

MUMBAI: Rohit Jadhav, 22, who was killed at Carter Road while on a date with his girlfriend, may have paid for his life to fuel his killers’ aspiration for a bike.

On Monday, the crime branch claimed to have cracked the murder by arresting two persons allegedly involved in the crime.

Those arrested have been identified as Santosh Verma, 27, and his nephew Rajesh Shankar Shukla alias Kalia, 25. Santosh runs a shop called Perfect Tyres at Khar-Danda.

The duo was picked up from their houses on Sunday. According to the crime branch officials, Santosh wanted to buy a second-hand motorcycle worth Rs10,000. He had managed to collect Rs9,000, but was finding it difficult to get the remaining amount.

“Their interrogation has revealed that on September 2, Santosh and his cousin Jeetendra Verma, 25, who was arrested earlier, decided to rob people on Carter Road so that they could get Rs1,000,” said joint commissioner of police (crime) Rakesh Maria. “On their way to the spot, they met Kalia who joined them.”

Maria added that Jadhav and his girlfriend Neelam Mohite were the first couple they accosted. The trio demanded money from them, but Jadhav refused after which they entered into a scuffle. Santosh then stabbed Jadhav on his chest and abdomen, while Jeetendra snatched Mohite’s gold chain.

“We have recovered the chain from Jeetendra’s residence and the knife has been found from Santosh’s shop,” Maria said.  “The knife has been sent to the forensic laboratory. Kalia has two cases of theft against him.”