Palghar, Maharashtra: In a significant breakthrough for law enforcement, the Crime Branch Unit-3 of Virar Police has successfully apprehended the prime accused in a 24-year-old murder case, bringing closure to one of the region's long-pending investigations.
The original incident occurred on October 14, 2001, between 4:10 pm and 4:20 pm, near Dr. Koli’s clinic on the Virar-Agashi road in Virar (West). The victim, Moharram Ali Mohammad Ibrahim Ali (56), a resident of Shantinagar, Arnala, succumbed to a fatal stab wound to the abdomen inflicted by an unknown assailant. He was rushed to Sanjeevani Hospital but passed away around 5:30 pm. A murder case was registered at Virar Police Station under IPC Section 302.
Initial investigations by Police Sub-Inspector M.G. Khairnar had identified Haroon Ali Mustaqim Ali Sayyed (43), a resident of Ahmadpur, Uttar Pradesh, as the suspect. However, Sayyed had absconded, and a chargesheet was filed under Section 299 of the CrPC, enabling prosecution in his absence.
Under recent directives from the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime), the crime branch intensified efforts to trace absconding criminals in serious cases. Over the past five months, Crime Branch Unit-3 officers launched a meticulous investigation, utilizing technical surveillance, intelligence gathering, and extensive field inquiries with witnesses and the victim’s family.
These sustained efforts bore fruit when police successfully located and detained Sayyed (43) in Talasari. He had been residing under a false identity at Nilkanth Industrial Estate in Vasai (East), while his permanent address remained in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh.
During interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime. He revealed that he was a rickshaw driver at the time of the incident and had a dispute with Moharram Ali over a rickshaw fare. The argument escalated, leading him to fatally stab the victim in a fit of rage.
Haroon Ali Mustaqim Ali Sayyed has now been handed over to Virar Police Station for further legal action.
