(Trigger Warning: Descriptions of violence)
In yet another gruesome crime against women, a 56-year-old man allegedly murdered his 32-year-old live-in partner over a domestic dispute in Mumbai's Mira Road area.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim, Saraswati Vaidya, an orphan, was hacked to death, Mumbai DCP Jayant Bajbale told the media on the night of Wednesday, 7 June.
The accused, identified as Manoj Sahni, allegedly chopped her body into about 20 pieces using tree cutters to get rid of the evidence.
Sahni was detained by the Naya Nagar Police on Wednesday night. On Thursday, 8 June, he was taken into police custody after Thane Court sent him on remand till 16 June, as per news agency ANI.
'Noticed a Foul Smell, Called the Cops'
Vaidya and Sahni have reportedly been living in a rental flat in Akashganga building for nearly 8-10 years. He used to run a kirana shop nearby, and she was unemployed.
Neighbours on Wednesday informed the police that a foul smell was emanating from the couple's flat. A neighbour told the media:
"They [the couple] have been living here for a while, but I didn't even know their names. They would just come and go. For the past two days, a stink was emanating from the house. We thought it was a dead rat or something, we had not even noticed. Yesterday, the stink got worse, so I knocked on the door. But no one responded. That's when I called the police."
When the police arrived at the building and broke open their door, they found a decomposed body of a woman, which was in pieces. The police launched a search for her live-in partner, and he was later nabbed as he was trying to leave the building.
"Tree-cutters have been found in his house. We were able to retrieve only the leg, as he has disposed of the other parts. It looks like he used a mixie or cooker to reduce her body parts before getting rid of them," Mira Road Police told The Quint.
Accused Claims She Consumed Poison
The police suspect that Sahni murdered Vaidya on 4 June. But as per the statement of the accused, he claims she drank poison to take her life.
"In his statement, he claims he disposed of her body as he was afraid of abatement. We have sent her body to JJ Hospital for post-mortem examination," Mira Road Police said.
The police further said that as per the neighbours' statements, the couple used to fight a lot.
A police source told The Quint, "He was very possessive about her and he would constantly question her character. He did not allow her to speak to others, even the neighbours."
The incident brings back chilling memories of the brutal murders of Shraddha Walkar and Nikki Yadav, who were allegedly murdered by their live-in partners in Delhi.
Recently, the Hyderabad Police arrested a man in the city for allegedly killing a woman, chopping her body into pieces, and storing them in a refrigerator and a suitcase at his house.
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