MUMBAI, April 9: The Oshiwara police today arrested the former domestic servant of 69-year-old Bhagwati Motiram Kaku, who was found murdered at her Lokhandwala complex home on Tuesday afternoon.The zonal deputy commissioner of police Datta Padsalgikar told Express Newsline that prima facie evidence suggested the murder was committed by someone who knew the family well. The investigating team has arrested the family's former servant Laxman and also recovered some stolen property from him, Padsalgikar said, adding he's being interrogated for more details.
A battered 69-year-old Bhagwati Motiram Kaku was found unconscious in the toilet of her sixth floor apartment in Savera Building, Lokhandwala complex, around 5 pm on Tuesday evening. Her assailants had gagged her before leaving her to die.
When Bhagwati's daughter-in-law Seema returned home at 5 pm, she found the flat's main door wide open. The elderly lady lived with her two sons and their wives, police said.
Entering inside, Seema discovered thefurniture was in a mess and the cupboard open. As Bhagwati was missing, she looked for her around the place and finally found her in the toilet, police said. Her hands and legs had been tied by the assailants, and a scarf had been stuffed into her mouth. After having dumped her into the toilet, the attackers had bolted the door from outside.
Seema immediately raised an alarm, following which the building's residents rushed to her flat. But when efforts to bring the old lady back to consciousness failed, she was rushed to a nearby nursing home. However, she was declared dead before admission.
Initial investigations provided little insight, but prima facie evidence and clues left behind indicated it was the job of someone who knew the house well. "killer was aware the old lady was alone at home, and that other family members would return in the evening,'' an investigating officer said.
Residents of the building said they didn't hear any screams, and pointed out that the flat adjacent to the Kaku's wasvacant when the murder took place.Police suspect that Laxman entered the flat in the afternoon, when Bhagwati Kaku was alone, intending to commit robbery. But when the woman resisted, he must silenced her so that he could make good his escape.
Laxman had earlier worked in the Kaku household for a few months. He was a regular visitor to the building and was present in the premises on Tuesday afternoon, investigations revealed.
Police suspect the involvement of more than one person in the murder.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
