Builder’s murder: Cops detain five

The Nagpada police on Sunday detained five persons in connection with the murder of a small-time builder working in central Mumbai.

The victim, Ketan Kataria, was found with his head smashed in a ghat in Ahmednagar district on June 20.

The suspects have been identified as Ashok Mishra (60) alias Baba, his son Hrudesh Mishra (35), the victim's neighbour Sachin Alhad (33), Sagar Pagare (25) and Prakash Cholekar (32).

"Kataria wanted a loan of Rs 2 crore. He approached Sachin who had taken a loan from someone a few months ago. Sachin told him that he knew someone who helps facilitate loans. He then introduced Kataria to Baba, knowing that he would be given a commission," senior police inspector Vinayak Sawade said.

Sawade said that Baba told Kataria about a bank in Ajmer which gives loans fast.

"The suspects told us that they went to Ajmer with the victim, but did not go to any bank. They had asked the victim for Rs 5 lakh as processing fee, of which he paid Rs 4 lakh in two installments.

"However, Kataria still did not get the loan," said Sawade.

Police said that on June 17, Kataria told his wife that he was going to meet Baba in Kalyan.

He gave her Baba's phone number and told her to call on that number, if she was unable to reach him.

"He took his car and went to meet Baba in Kalyan. They met at a hotel and were joined by Hrudesh, Sagar and Sachin. They then went to Prakash's house in the area. They forcibly took him to Nashik the next morning. While they were on their way, Kataria told them that he wanted to answer nature's call. He got down from the car and started to run but tripped. Prakash caught him and smashed his head with a stone," Sawade said. The five then allegedly threw the body in the ghat and fled in Kataria's car.

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