Former BJP councillor Dimple Patel (45) was stabbed to death and his body thrown out from his office on the fifth floor of a commercial complex near Delhi Darwaza, late on Friday.

The three key suspects in the case, Haresh Katariya, Prem Thakore and Amrut Chauhan, are absconding, the police said.

Patel was thrown out from his office, Space Advertising, in B G Tower, around 10 pm on Friday. Joint Commissioner of Police (Sector 1) Mohan Jha, said: “Patel’s murderers wanted to mislead the police by making it look like a case of suicide.”

The Madhavpura police, which is investigating the case, said Patel bore five stab wounds.

Jha said: “It seems there was a scuffle between Patel and the accused as the entire office had been ransacked. We suspect the involvement of at least three accused as Patel was a stout man and it would have required at least three men to lift him and throw him out of the window.”

According to sources, Katariya, Thakore and Chauhan had a tiff with Patel about five days ago. They were also seen near the place of the crime around 8 pm on Friday. “It has been learnt that Patel had filed a complaint of loot against the three about two years ago,” Jha said.

The police said Patel was finishing the day’s work when his assailants barged inside. “We have got some crucial leads and have also roped in the forensic experts,” said Investigating Officer, Madhavpura Inspector K M Joshi.