With total six arrests, police claim it’s a breakthrough
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The Goa police claimed to have made a major breakthrough, in what they claim as the ‘supari killing’ of Taleigao-based real estate developer and motor garage owner Hasan Khan with the arrest of six persons, four of whom were sourced from Belgaum. The cold-blooded murder was allegedly planned by a suspended employee of Mines Department Robert Gonsalves for Rs 5 lakh ‘supari’ or contract killing, highly placed police sources told Herald.
The sources disclosed that Robert had roped-in Raj Patel, who in turn brought in four others – all natives from Belgaum to eliminate Khan. All six are presently in police custody undergoing interrogation.
The four Belgaum natives identified as Maruti Bhui (23), Arun Patil (19), Ravi Patil (26) and Shivaji Patil (23) were arrested early Monday morning and brought to Goa. They have been remanded to five days police custody while the two arrested in Goa have been remanded to seven days by JMFC. The entire operation was jointly conducted by the Panjim and Agassaim police.
The preliminary investigation has revealed startling details.
In fact the involvement of yet another person, hailing from Ramnagar in Betim, has come to light, who is supposed to have sourced the four from Belgaum.
“Robert and Raj during the interrogation disclosed that the ‘mystery man,’ was already paid Rs 2 lakh and was promised the balance Rs three lakh after Khan’s murder. Police planned a trap for the others,” the source said. Police are tight-lipped about revealing identity of the seventh person.
In a dramatic filmy style catch! The ‘mystery man’ who is also in the police net, was asked by the cops to phone Maruti telling him to collect the balance payment.
“The unidentified man sourced the four persons for Robert and Raj and hence the payment was made through him. Maruti was caught from Kolhapur from where the team proceeded to Belgaum and arrested three others with the help of Belgaum police,” the source disclosed.
The 35 year old victim was found brutally murdered in his own car, a Honda city, near the Bambolim cross Friday morning. He was also robbed of his belongings. The family, who were on a look out after his sudden disappearance, located his stabbed body at the crime spot. He was then rushed to the GMC but was pronounced dead.
Herald was the first to report that it could be a case of contract killing given that the deceased was involved in property dealings and had a construction project in North Goa.
“This is a very sensitive and heinous crime and the police were able to detect it in a short period, professionally. The case has been cracked,” a senior officer told Herald.
The police have approached the Mines Department for getting details of Robert as it could help the police investigation. Similarly, the unidentified person’s direct involvement is also being established though police say, he was only hiring criminals and sharing ‘supari’ money.
