MUMBAI: In the second case in two weeks of a woman being killed and the body being chopped, a 36-year-old woman from
Mira Road was allegedly murdered by her live-in-partner who then "cut the body into several parts" and disposed of some of them.
When the police reached their flat on Wednesday evening, they found only the woman's legs. The accused, Manoj Sahani (56), was arrested while trying to flee from his flat.
With such heinous crimes unfortunately on the increase, how the prosecution proceeds is critical to serving as an example and more importantly, as a deterrent. The prosecution must ensure that the accused in this case is convicted and is given exemplary punishment. A swift and thorough investigation that includes gathering of scientific evidence is vital to secure a conviction.
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The reason behind the murder and dismemberment of the body is still to be ascertained.
Naya Nagar police said the victim, Saraswati Vaidya, was in a live-in relationship with Sahani. The couple lived in a flat in Geeta Akashdeep building, Geeta Nagar, Phase 7, they rented three years ago.
On Wednesday evening, police got a call from residents of the building complaining that a foul smell was emanating from flat number 704.
When they reached the flat, Sahani opened the door. On seeing the cops, he tried to flee but they nabbed him with help of the residents. When cops entered the flat, they found only a woman's legs.
"Local Police had received information on the complaints of foul smell emanating from the flat. When the Police officers and staff checked it, the information was confirmed," DCP Jayant Bajbale said.
"Once the lock was broken and Police went inside, chopped pieces of the body were found in utensils and buckets. Accused (Manoj Sane) has been arrested. Pieces of the body have been sent to JJ Hospital for analysis. FIR has been registered, further investigation is being done," he added.
Sahani reportedly told the cops that he had disposed of some of the body parts over the past two to three days.
Police said he showed no sign of remorse.
They suspect the murder may have taken place on Sunday. Sahani is suspected to have strangled Vaidya and later used a saw to chop her body into several parts.
Residents told the police that Sahani was seen feeding stray dogs in the locality over the past two to three days- something that he had never done in the past. Police suspect he may have fed some of the body parts to the strays. They are also ascertaining if body parts were flushed down the drain.
Meanwhile, the saw used for chopping the body has been seized.
On Friday, a headless body of a woman was found in a travel bag at Uttan beach in Bhayander. Cops nabbed the woman's husband who suspected she was in an extramarital relationship.
The head, which was also believed to have been dumped in the Bhayander creek, is still to be found. He allegedly cut the torso into two parts.
Sandhya Nair, Assistant Editor at The Times of India, Mumbai. Wri...
Read MoreSandhya Nair, Assistant Editor at The Times of India, Mumbai. Writes on School Education, covers developments in Mira-Bhayander, Palghar district.
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