Cops crack Malad lottery centre murder case

Mumbai police have claimed to cracked the mystery behind death of an office boy working in a lottery centre in suburban Malad.

Cops crack Malad lottery centre murder case

Mumbai police have claimed to cracked the mystery behind death of an office boy working in a lottery centre in suburban Malad.

The crime branch sleuths have arrested two persons identified as Rakesh Choube (24), a dealer in computer parts and Satish Pawar (25), a jewellery designer -- both residents of Kurar village in Malad, from suburban Borivali.

Sanjay Turia, 20, who worked as a office boy in Sai Lottery Centre in Malad was found murdered on December 26 last. A murder case was registered with the Dindoshi police station. "At around 11.15 pm, the lottery manager, Raju Manik, went for dinner while Turia was alone in the shop.

The owner, Ajit Sharma, used to leave the shop at around 10.30 pm daily," said Rakesh Maria, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime). As soon as the manager went out, the accused who were waiting for an opportunity by waiting nearby, entered the centre and smashed the head of Turia with weapons, he said.

After he lost conscious, Choube allegedly slit the throat of the office boy, Maria said. "As per the leads gathered during the investigation, the two were summoned to the Crime Branch. The two broke down and confessed to the crime," Maria said adding robbery appeared to be the motive behind the murder.

"Choube had been playing lottery for over one-and-a-half year. While playing lottery, he lost about Rs 11,000 which he had to return to Sharma." Sharma and manager Manik were pestering Choube to pay back. He managed to return Rs 6000, police said.

"Choube and Pawar needed about Rs 35,000 to settle their problems. Hence they planned to rob the Lottery centre," they added.

u00a0"The two kept a watch on the shop for over a week before committing the crime. They knew that the owner takes the cash home every three days. On December 26, they executed the plan and took the keys of the locker from Turia," Maria said.

"They thought that there would be about Rs 1.50 lakh in the locker. However, they found only Rs 15,500. They took the cash and fled from the spot," official said.