Interestingly, sources said the arrests could provide leads to the sensational Nita Satbhaya case.

According to police officials, Bombaywala and Kutchi were picked up on a attempt-to-murder charge on Monday evening as they tried to run over a police sub-inspector, who, acting on a tip-off, was trying to intercept their car on its way back to the city from Amod.

Afrikawala, who reportedly had criminal antecedents, is suspected to have been stabbed by Bombaywala and Kutchi in association with one Farooq Munshi in the Nani Bazaar area of Rander on November 28. Officials told Express Newsline that Munshi, too, had been with Bombaywala and Kutchi just hours before the two were arrested around 6 p.m. on Monday.

According to officials conducting the interrogation, the two had admitted that Munshi had been with them on November 28. They did not, however, specify if they had confessed to the murder. ``It was a supari killing and Munshi has been associated with them in the past'', the official told Express Newsline on condition of anonymity.

Asked if the trio could be involved in the Satbhaya case, cautious investigating officials at Bharuch said there were similarities between the two cases: three persons were involved in both cases, as were sharp-edged weapons. The police have recovered two knives from Kutchi and Bombaywala and sent them for examination.

But more than anything else it is the common supari angle that is reportedly interesting the police. Officials investigating the Satbhaya case had told the media earlier that it appeared to be a supari killing.

While declining to comment on whether the arrests would shed light on the Satbhaya murder, city police commissioner Kuldip Sharma said, ``It is too early to connect them with the Satbhaya case right now''.