Palghar: In a swift and coordinated operation, officers from the Naigaon Police Crime Detection Unit successfully arrested a murder suspect within just two hours of the crime, as he attempted to flee to his hometown in Uttar Pradesh.
The incident occurred on June 8, 2025, at approximately 3:30 pm at Warsi Hotel in Dalvi Nagar, Sagpada, Vasai Taluka. An altercation reportedly broke out between hotel owner Mohammad Hasim, his associate Rais alias Lodhe Shaikh, and Sanjay Nithohar Prajapati (35).
The dispute was allegedly over loaned money. During the confrontation, Prajapati was struck on the head with a gas cylinder, leading to his death. A case was registered at Naigaon Police Station under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Recognizing the gravity of the case, senior officers immediately directed the Crime Detection Unit to initiate a parallel investigation. Preliminary inquiries at the crime scene revealed crucial details: one of the suspects had fled barefoot, leaving his slippers behind, and had changed his clothes before escaping in the direction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Express Highway.
Two dedicated police teams were formed under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Vijay Kadam. One team pursued leads through Chinchoti, Sativali, and the Vasai West area. During their search, officers spotted a suspicious man with a handkerchief covering his face, standing near an auto-rickshaw close to Vasai railway station, notably, without footwear.
The team intercepted him, and upon questioning, he identified himself as Rais alias Lodhe Mannu Shaikh (45), a resident of Chinchoti, Naigaon East.
Through skilled interrogation, Rais confessed to the crime and implicated Hasim alias Maulana, who was later apprehended. He was identified as Mohammad Hasim Insanali Shah (30), residing in Raju Chawl, Gauraipada, Vasai East. Both accused confessed that they had murdered Prajapati over a monetary dispute.
The case is currently being investigated by PI Abhijeet Madke. The operation was conducted under the leadership of Police Commissioner Madhukar Pandey, Additional Commissioner Dattatray Shinde, Deputy Commissioner Pournima Chougule, and Assistant Commissioner Navnath Ghogare.
