29-year-old held for killing grandfather

MUMBAI: A 29-year-old man hired contract killers to murder his grandfather for his property in south Mumbai and as a revenge for forcing his mother for a physical relation after the death of his father.

According to MRA Marg police, they found the body of the 87-year-old Ajaa Tejling Lama in his flat on Wednesday with several stab wounds near Shahid Bhagat Singh Road in South Mumbai.

The police did not find the murder weapon and on questioning the neighbours, they found out that Lama used to stay alone while his daughter-in-law and grandson, who had disowned him, stayed in Dombivli. The officers said that Lama had a flat, a stall in Colaba and was a womaniser.

The officers said that on learning about Lama’s character, they approached his daughter-in-law in Dombivli. “We found that Lama’s grandson Dorje Lama was a history-sheeter and was missing from his house ever since the murder took place,” said Sanjay Kamble, senior police inspector, MRA Marg police station.

Abhishek Trimukhe, deputy commissioner of police, (Zone 1) said, “After investigations, we found that Dorji was the main conspirator who had chalked out the plan to murder his grandfather. He had hired a contract killer, Utkarsh Mahendra Soni, 19, and three others to kill Lama. Dorji had promised to pay Soni ₹1.5 lakh after getting Lama’s flat transferred in his name.

Based on the plan, Soni stabbed Aja with a knife on Tuesday night around 2 am at Lama’s residence in Sant Niwas building.

Other accused, Jayesh alias Andre Konajia, 22, Anand Dilip Rai, 21, and Angel Daniel Bhise, 21, have also been arrested. They were also history-sheeters, police said.

Since Lama’s family members knew he was a womaniser, Dorji, his mother and his two brothers had shifted to Dombivli. Dorji and his accomplices had been keeping tabs on the daily routine of his grandfather before killing him.

Trimukhe further said, “Dorji wanted to seek revenge from Lama since he had tried to force Dorji’s mother to have a physical relationship with him, a few years ago, after his father died. Dorji also wanted to take over the property and business of Lama.”

He said, “All five accused have been arrested from Dombivli.”