Man held from Kolkata for killing 76-year-old colleague

The Dadar police arrested a 35-year-old security guard from Kolkata for allegedly killing his colleague, who was employed as a guard in film-maker Sooraj Barjatya's office in Prabhadevi. The police claim that his arrest has helped them prevent another murder, as the accused had gone to Kolkata with the intention of avenging the murder of his cousin brother after committing the crime in Mumbai.

According to the police, Mehdi Imam Fazal, 76, was employed by a private security agency. He was in Barjatya's Rajshri Productions office on contract. He was found dead on a loft in the pantry of the office on March 11.

Fazal used to guard the office during night and stay in the same premises. The level of decomposition of his body suggested that he was dead at least two days before the matter was reported. The police had registered a complaint of murder against unknown persons in this regard.

"While investigating the case, we learned that one Totan Biswas, 35, who was employed by the same security agency, used to meet Fazal at his office every Sunday. On making further inquiries on Bishwas' movements, we found out that he had taken Rs1,800 from his employers on March 10 and had been missing since then. Later, we found out that he had gone to his native place in Kolkata. We sent a team there," said deputy commissioner of police, Zone V, Dhananjay Kulkarni.

In Kolkata, the team learned that Biswas had shot at his wife last year following a domestic quarrel and was booked for the crime and that his cousin brother had subsequently been murdered by his wife's relatives.

"Further inquiries in Mumbai and in Kolkata revealed that Biswas had withdrawn Rs22,000 from his bank account in small installments over a period of few days. He had given the money to his friend, telling him to buy a gun. The weapon was supposed to be used to avenge the killing of his cousin," said a police officer.

"We picked up Biswas from his aunt's place near the Indo-Bangladesh border on Saturday. During interrogation, he told us that on the night of March 9, he went to Fazal's office under the influence of alcohol. When he used Fazal's cell phone to make a call, Fazal told him to use his own phone. This led to an argument. Biswas allegedly strangled Fazal to death, dragged his body to the loft and fled the scene," said Kulkarni.

Biswas was brought to Mumbai by the team of policemen on Monday. He is being interrogated, the police said.