Senior citizen couple's murder case solved

Mumbai, Feb 18 (UNI) City police have solved the elderly couple's murder-cum-robbery case within 72 hours with the arrest of their servant in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.

Talking to reporters here today, Joint Commissioner of Police Rakesh Maria said that acting on a tip off, a crime branch team rushed to the native place of the accused, Sandeep Mangade (29), Ratnagiri, and nabbed him from a nearby jungle yesterday.

Mr Maria said that during interrogation, Sandeep confessed that he was working with the couple for the past 11 years and had recently demanded Rs 25,000 from them to attend wedding of a close relative at Ratnagiri. But the had couple declined and also refused to increase his salary.

On last Friday, while working in the kitchen Sandeep broke a plate following which the deceased, Dilip Saderi (72), shouted at him. At this, Sandeep lost his temper and pushed him, resulting in Saderi's fall and a head injury. Hearing the sound, Saderi's wife, Varsha (62), rushed to the kitchen and saw her husband lying on the floor with blood oozing from his head. Varsha got a shock and fell unconscious. Then Sandeep took the kitchen knife and slit the neck of Varsha. Thereafter, he removed the valuables and Rs 5,500 in cash and poured kerosene on the couple and set them ablaze, Mr Maria said.

Police has seized the valuables and Rs 3,500 from Sandeep's possession.

UNI ST NM SKB1821