According to the Dahisar police, the incident occurred on Tuesday morning at a flat in Abhinav Nagar in Borivali (east). The accused, Prithviraj Dey (30), and the deceased, Sajid Sheikh (30), had been staying in the rented room for the last four months. The duo were assisting set designers. 

The initial investigation by the police revealed that Dey, who is a native of West Bengal, was a habitual drinker and led an extravagant lifestyle. To meet his daily expenses, Dey would often borrow money from people and was constantly under debt. “On the day of the incident, Dey asked Sheikh to lend him Rs 15,000. Sheikh however refused saying that the money was for paying the rent of the flat,” said Assistant Police Inspector Deepak Girkar from the Dahisar police.

Sheikh’s refusal to lend the money led to a fight between them. The official added that the duo attacked each other with two kitchen knives which were recovered by the police from the spot. While Sheikh received serious injuries on his head, chest and hand, Dey sustained deep cuts on the legs and thighs.

The injured Sheikh ran out of the house and banged the doors of the neighbour before falling on the ground. The neighbours admitted them to Bhagwati Hospital in Borivali. While Sheikh was declared dead before admission, Dey is still in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital.