A municipal town, Arvi falls under the Wardha district where the Prohibition Act is in force for the last several years.

Already, investigators are reported to have come across statements from the two police constables, suspected in the murder, suggesting a nexus between the police and the illicit liquor operators.

Constables Subhash Laxman Bhoyar and Satyadev Madhav Jamgade are reported to have told their interrogators that Yavale had no business scolding them in front of other staff members especially when he himself was collecting haftas from the illicit operators.

The duo reportedly sought to know what difference did it make if they took a petty amount from the auto-driver. The two are lodged in the Pulgaon policelock-up after a court remanded them to police custody till August 24.

The recovery of Rs 8,000 from the pockets of the uniform trouser which Yavale was wearing on Sunday evening is also a hot topic. The cash was found during the panchanama conducted by the police.

Yavale's semi-clad body with multiple stab wounds was found lying in a pool of blood early on Monday morning when a visitor reached his official quarter for some work.

Meanwhile, investigations have hitherto revealed that Bhoyar and Jamgade had a score to settle with Yavale ever since the latter scolded them last Friday evening in front of other staff members for extracting Rs 40 each from an autorickshaw driver.

The driver had reported the matter to Yavale who not only gave the constables a piece of his mind but also made them return the money to the auto-driver while the police station staff had assembled for the usual evening roll call last Friday.

Police said, the duo proceeded to Yavale's quarter around Sunday midnight afterconsuming liquor at a dhaba along the national highway at village Talegaon. Even before a surprised Yavale could ask them about the purpose of their visit at the late hour, the duo confronted him for scolding them in front of other staff members.

In a bid to avoid nuisance, Yavale asked them to come inside the house. The two constables persisted with their query and were in no mood to listen their officer. In the heat of the moment, an irked Yavale reportedly slapped one of the constables and soon the duo responded with an attack. While Bhoyar caught hold the PSO from behind, Jamgade went on to repeatedly stab Yavale with a knife, police said. Not to stop at this, the two strangulated a profusely bleeding Yavale with a telephone chord till the he died, police added. The body bore at least 24 stab wounds.