64-Year-Old Woman Found Dead With Hands Tied In House Near Mumbai's Bandra Reclamation; Police Launch Probe

Mumbai: A 64-year-old woman's decomposed body, with her hands tied, was found in her flat in Bandra West on Monday. Within two hours, the police nabbed one of her acquaintances, Sharif Ali Damsher Sheikh, 27, for allegedly killing her during the robbery. The quantity of the stolen booty is yet to be determined as the victim lived alone and only her daughter, who lives separately in Malad, can quantify the theft. Sheikh has confessed to the crime, said the cops, adding that the court has remanded him to police custody until February 17.

About The Case

The murder took place in the afternoon February 5 and came to light five days later after the neighbours complained of foul smell. The accused, who lives in the adjacent building, frequented the house of the victim, Rekha Khonde. She lived in flat no 22, second floor, Kanchan cooperative housing society, HIG Colony, near Lilavati Hospital. Her daughter, who works in a private firm, didn't pay a visit for the last two months due to some dispute.

According to the police, Sheikh took advantage of the same and started frequenting Khonde's house on the pretext of helping her. He even acted as an intermediary between the mother-daughter duo, the probe found. A private firm employee, the accused lives with his parents and a brother, who works in Qatar Airlines. After the neighbours complained of foul smell to Khonde's daughter, she came and opened the flat with a duplicate key. The victim bore injuries on her head and torso, inflicted with a sharp object.

According to the police, Sheikh tied Khonde's hands before attacking her and rendering her unconscious. He then stole gold jewellery and cash, they said. “He used several household objects to kill her. The other flat on Khonde's floor has been sealed due to some legal reason. Hence, no one realised when the murder occurred,” said a cop.

During the probe, the accused assisted the police, which brought him under the scanner. The cops then recorded statements from neighbours and relatives, and took Sheikh in custody after gathering evidence based on technical surveillance. He killed Khonde as she would have spilled the beans on him after the robbery, said the police, adding that the medical report shows nothing apart from murder.

The victim was living on her late husband's pension and never used online banking, which was known to Sheikh. The building's watchman said that Khonde never misbehaved with anyone. A case has been filed against the accused under sections 103(1) (murder), 311 (robbery or dacoity with an attempt to cause deathor grievous hurt), among other charges of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.