Bombay High Court Intervention Leads to Murder Arrest in Missing Son Case
In a distressing case highlighting systemic delays, a 65-year-old laborer's relentless six-month struggle to locate his missing son culminated in a murder arrest only after the Bombay High Court intervened. The victim's body remains unrecovered, adding to the family's anguish.
Disappearance and Initial Police Inaction
Rahul Kharwar, a 25-year-old housekeeping worker from Kurla, went missing on the evening of July 24, 2025, after receiving a phone call from his friend, Ankit Sahu. His father, Yogendra Prasad, searched through the night and approached the Vinoba Bhave Nagar police station, only to be asked to return the next day. A missing person complaint was registered late on July 25.
Despite repeated visits to the police station and letters sent to the Mumbai police commissioner, the home minister, and the chief minister, Yogendra alleged that no serious effort was made to trace his son. "I waited at the police station till 3 am, but no one even tried to call my son's phone," he recounted, highlighting the initial police apathy.
Court Intervention and Investigation Breakthrough
In December 2025, with the help of a lawyer, Yogendra filed a habeas corpus petition in the Bombay High Court. Following the court's intervention, police launched a fresh probe in January 2026, examining Rahul's call data records, mobile location, and bank transactions.
Investigators discovered that Rahul and Sahu's mobile phones were at the same location on a bridge over the Mithi River between 7 pm and 7:30 pm on July 24. Technical analysis revealed that Rahul's phone remained active until the afternoon of July 25, and Rs 10,556 was transferred through his UPI account around 1 pm that day, after his suspected death.
"What is more disturbing is that my son's phone was active for four to five hours after he was murdered. If it had been tracked, then the crime could have been uncovered much earlier. Even today, his body has not been recovered," Yogendra stated.
Arrest and Motive Revealed
During the initial inquiry, Sahu claimed Rahul had asked for Rs 3,000 on July 24, which he refused, after which Rahul left. Police accepted his statement and released him. However, after the High Court-ordered probe, police found that Sahu had previously taken Rahul's PhonePe password under the guise of helping withdraw provident fund money, siphoning off Rs 29,500 without his knowledge.
Confronted about the theft, Sahu allegedly sent Rahul a fake PhonePe screenshot showing a refund. Police revealed that Sahu, addicted to online gaming, had accumulated debts of Rs 4 to 5 lakh. Fearing exposure, he lured Rahul to the bridge over the Mithi River on the pretext of returning money and pushed him into the river.
"He then took Rahul's phone and transferred Rs 10,556 through UPI after his death," a police officer said. A murder case was registered on January 9, 2026, and Sahu was arrested, now in judicial custody.
Ongoing Search for the Body
A senior IPS officer, speaking anonymously, confirmed efforts to locate the body. "We have written to the BMC and NDRF for assistance and are checking police stations along the Mithi River and coastal areas for any unclaimed bodies," the officer stated.
Background of the Victim
Rahul lived with his father in a 120 sq ft rented house in Kurla West. His mother died a decade ago. A school dropout, he worked in housekeeping jobs and had changed employers a month before his disappearance. Yogendra earns around Rs 12,000 monthly as a daily wage laborer.
Recounting the day Rahul went missing, Yogendra said his son had cooked dinner before receiving a call around 7 pm and stepping out. "I kept calling him from 9 pm. I made nearly 100 calls. The phone rang but he never answered," he lamented.
This case underscores the critical role of judicial oversight in ensuring timely police action and highlights vulnerabilities in digital financial systems exploited in criminal activities.
