Mondal told the police that he strangulated Sandha to death because she abused him for breaking a dish during a party on Saturday evening. For two days, he holed himself up in Pydhonie. Said Additional CP (south) Arup Patnaik, police were tipped off that Mondal was planning to flee Mumbai. A team led by PSI Avinash Sawant nabbed Mondal this afternoon. Valuables, mostly silver crockery stashed in a large green Samsonite suitcase, were recovered from him. The other officers of the squad are inspector S Shivsagar, PSIs B V Rane and D N Fulpagare.

However, investigators have drawn a blank as to how Mondal slipped past the security at Diamond Court Building with a largesuitcase in hand. Police suspect there may be an accomplice involved in the crime.