Varanasi, Dec.14: The Special Task Force (STF) along with Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police on Monday detained two suspects, one of whom is the key suspect, in connection with the sensational double murder case of high profile artist Hema Upadhyay and her lawyer Harish Bhambani.
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The Kandivli police booked the trio for murder, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy and produced them before the local magistrate court which remanded them in police custody till December 19.
The bodies of Hema (43), a resident of Juhu and Bhambani (65), a resident of King’s Circle in Sion-Matunga area, were found inside cardboard boxes in a drain at Kandivli suburbs here. On Tuesday, the police asked for the custody of Vikas, Pradeep and Azad in court, which was approved.
Acting on a tip-off from Mumbai police, Uttar Pradesh Police arrested Sadhu Rajbhar and also recovered certain personal belongings of the victims, ID cards, several ATM cards and other things from him.
While sources said at least seven people are suspected to be involved in the crime, a police search is on for the absconding owner of the warehouse, Vidhyadhar Rajbhar.
Refusing to divulge further details, he said investigations were on into the case.
According to police, Vidya’s arrest would shed light whether the killing was the fallout of a financial dispute between him and Hema, or whether it was a contract killing ordered by her estranged husband Chintan, who remains to be under scanner in the case.
“My husband is innocent”.
Police have questioned the transporter who confirmed he had dumped the two boxes in the Kandivali drain, believing them to contain broken antiques.
According to police, Vidyadhar, Sadhu and the three arrested persons allegedly killed Hema and Bhambhani on Saturday last.
Sadhu is being brought to Mumbai by train from UP and is expected to be here by Tuesday night after which he would be formally arrested, Patil said. They have told the police that Upadhyay had refused to pay Vidyadhar the amount, which he had claimed for a fabrication work. Hema, a Vadodara-born painter and installation artist, was locked in bitter divorce proceedings with her husband.
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The police have, meanwhile, sealed Vidyadhar’s warehouse in Kandivali.
