Pallavi Purkayastha’s Killer Worked as a Guard When on Parole

Sajjad Mughal was convicted of attempted rape and murder of Pallavi Purkayastha in 2012.
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Sajjad Mughal was convicted of attempted rape and murder of Pallavi Purkayastha in 2012.
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(Photo Courtesy: @thepulpfriction/Twitter)
Sajjad Mughal was convicted of attempted rape and murder of Pallavi Purkayastha in 2012.
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Sajjad Mughal, the accused in 25-year-old Mumbai lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha’s murder and rape case, was caught and arrested again by the Mumbai crime branch in Jammu and Kashmir on 10 October, after jumping parole after his first arrest. Mughal, a security guard, went missing last year when he was out of parole. He stands convicted of the attempted rape and murder of Purkayastha in 2012.

  • Sajjad Mughal, the convict in lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha’s murder case was arrested on 10 October
  • Mughal was arrested from Sonmarg in Jammu and Kashmir
  • He was granted 90-day furlough in February 2016 to see his mother in Baramulla, after which he went missing
  • He had worked as a security guard in Purkayastha’s colony when he confessed to killing her on 9 August 2012

Mughal Worked as a Guard During Parole: Report

Purkayastha’s killer – Mughal – after being released on a 90-day furlough on 26 February 2016 worked as a guard in two societies in Mumbai, said a Mid-Day report.

Adopting a different alias, he first worked as a guard at Atlantic Complex near Sagar City and 15 days later later, at a newly constructed building on SV Road in Andheri West, said the report.

He was asked to furnish his identity documents which he said he’s bring within a months time from his village. In April 2016, he left for Srinagar after which he went into hiding. Mughal’s family was aware of his “escape plan” and supported him.

"Mughal Evaded Arrest for Long"

Datta Padsalgikar, the Commissioner of Police, Mumbai congratulated the team that arrested Mughal.

I would compliment the team led by Sanjay Nikam, who nabbed him from Jammu and Kashmir. Since he was in an area where he had his friends, he could evade arrest for a long time. He was doing petty jobs there for a living.

Padsalgikar said that Mughal will be handed over to the Nashik police on Wednesday.

"Overwhelming But Great News"

Manav Shah, a friend of Purkayastha’s told The Quint that he was overwhelmed hearing the news of the arrest.

I’m abroad and I didn’t even know until you told me. I’m completely overwhelmed. All of us, her friends and family, we had given up hope but there was something left, a tiny hope that she’ll get justice. It’s such good news.
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Father Confirms Arrest

Atanu Purkayastha, Pallavi Purkayastha’s father confirmed Mughal was arrested in Sonmarg in the valley and stated that he is now being brought to Mumbai.

Jumped Parole in 2016

Sajjid Mughal, the security guard convicted for in the rape and murder case of Mumbai lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha, jumped parole in 2016 when he was visiting his mother in Baramulla.

Mumbai police had closely been working with the Jammu and Kashmir police since then.

Pallavi Purkayastha’s Murderer Arrested

Sajjad Mughal, the accused in 25-year-old Mumbai lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha’s murder and rape case, was arrested by the Mumbai crime branch in Jammu and Kashmir on 10 October.

Mughal, a security guard, went missing last year after he jumped parole and disappeared.

Mughal was convicted of attempted rape and murder of Purkayastha in 2012.

"I Assaulted Her with My Knife"

Sajjad Mughal was found guilty for the rape, murder and criminally trespassing onto the property of Mumbai-based lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha in 2012.

Initially, Mughal refuted all charges levied against him and said that Purkayastha was killed by her fiance Avik Sengupta. However, later he confessed to killing Purkayastha on 9 August 2012.

Police had claimed that Mughal, a native of Jammu and Kashmir, used to ogle at the young lawyer, the daughter of IAS officer Atanu Purkayastha, who was the joint secretary in the Agriculture Ministry at the Centre when the incident took place.

In his statement to police, Mughal had said that he sneaked into Pallavi’s flat on 9 August, using a set of duplicate keys and tried to force himself upon her.

However, when I forced myself upon her, she resisted and started screaming and at this time I assaulted her with my knife that I was carrying.

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Published: 10 Oct 2017,06:46 PM IST

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