A special squad attached to unit-2 of Crime Branch arrested the accused Pradeep Nar from Dadar, said assistant commissioner of police Pradeep Sawant. The identity of his two associates are withheld as it might hamper further investigations, Sawant added.

``Nar, a milk vendor in the Napean Sea area, told the police that he committed the crime with his associates for money and valuables. The other accused will be arrested very soon,'' Sawant added.

Datta (63) was stabbed in his fifth floor A-wing 54 apartment at Jaldarshan Building overlooking Priyadarshini Park at around 6.15 am on Wednesday. The three assailants barged into his room and repeatedly stabbed him on his abdomen, thighs before gagging him and escaped. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Bhatia Hospital where he is reported to bestable.However, the police could not record his statement as he is still in a state of shock.