Diamantaire murder: Politician, ex-cop held

mumbai — In a sensational development, a politician and a suspended policeman have been arrested while a prominent modelcum-television actress was interrogated under detention by Mumbai police following the mysterious murder of a diamantaire, Rajeshwar K. Udani, officials said on Saturday.

The politician, Sachin Pawar, was a close friend and business partner of the victim and earlier with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the suspended policeman is the main person who executive the crime, the police said.

Earlier, actress Debolina Bhattacharya was grilled for several hours by police in Ghatkopar three days after the missing Udani’s body was recovered in the forests of adjoining Raigad district.

However, officials remain tightlipped over her role in the case but hinted that some more women from the entertainment industry may be summoned for questioning, and did not rule out more arrests in the case.

Udani, 57, had been reported missing by his family from his office from November 28. The police had registered a missing case and launched a search for him. His mobile was tracked in Rabale, Navi Mumbai, before its signal was lost.

After nearly a week, on December 4, since he remained untraced and the family suspected something amiss, police registered a kidnapping case. His driver told

police that Udani asked him to be dropped near the Pant Nagar market where another vehicle came and he got into it.

His highly decomposed body, without any apparent injuries, was found late on December 5 and bereft of any identity paper. He was identified by his son from the

clothes and shoes he was wearing. Investigators suspect Udani’s kidnappers may have killed him at some other location before dumping the body in the Panvel forests.

Police investigations records have revealed that Udani was a regular at some bars and in touch with several women. —