Seven students and a watchman were picked up for questioning today and a senior police officer said investigators were probing the possibility of the girl having been murdered by two students with whom she had a tiff two hours before her death. They suspect that the two teenagers followed the girl to her flat with the intention of molesting her, but murdered her when she resisted their advances. Deputy Commissioner of Police (zone VII) K L Prasad told Express Newsline that investigations were at an advanced stage and that there could be a breakthrough soon.

Heena, a class IX student of Poddar High School, Santacruz, was killed when she was alone in her fourth-floor flat at ShellRock Building on Somnath Lane, Bandra (west). The murder came to light when her elder brother Kunal returned from a coaching class around 7 pm and found her body lying under the bed. Police now suspect there could be more than one killer involved. What adds to the mystery is the fact that there is no evidence of forced entry into the flat, suggesting the killers were known to the victim and the murder a fallout of previous enmity. The Bandra police, who are investigating the case, have ruled out the possibility of robbery being the motive. No valuables were reported missing from the flat, the police confirmed. Even a wad of hundred rupee notes lying in an open almirah is untouched.

One of the girl's relatives ruled out the possibility of a family member being involved in the murder.