Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Apr 25: Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested two persons from Nagpur in connection with the murder of 78-year-old Mohammed Iqbal Ibrahim Seliya, who was stabbed to death in Nagpada on April 20, police said.

The arrested accused have been identified as Sadik Aakib Jawar (29) and his associate Naushad Yusuf Mithani (25).

Crime Branch Unit 3 traced and arrested the duo from the Bada Tajbag area in Nagpur based on technical surveillance and human intelligence inputs.

According to police, Jawar allegedly told investigators he suspected the victim of having acted as a police informer in earlier encounter killings involving his relatives, which he claimed was a motive for revenge.

The murder took place at Karim Parda Mansion in Madanpura, where, according to the FIR lodged on a complaint by the victim’s wife Tanzila Seliya, an argument broke out over a financial dispute.

Police said the victim had allegedly invested Rs 65 lakh with Jawar and tensions had emerged over delayed monthly returns.

Investigators said the dispute escalated during a meeting at the victim’s residence, following which Jawar allegedly attacked him with a sharp weapon.

A case has been registered at Nagpada police station under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Police said the accused switched off their mobile phones and moved across states after the murder in an attempt to evade arrest before being tracked down in Nagpur.

During investigation, officials also found Jawar to be the nephew of alleged gangsters Sadik Kaliya and Arif Kaliya, who were killed in encounter operations in 1997 and 2002.

Police said further investigation is underway.