Elderly Woman Found Brutally Murdered in Mumbai Apartment
In a shocking incident from Mumbai's Ghatkopar West area, a 65-year-old woman was found brutally murdered in her own home. The victim, Shehnaz Anees Kazi, was discovered lying in a pool of blood in her fourth-floor apartment at Mukund Society in Himalaya Complex.
The grim discovery was made after the victim's sister grew concerned when Shehnaz stopped answering her phone calls. She alerted a neighbour, Saika Raees Ansari, who then attempted to check on Shehnaz. When there was no response at the door, another neighbour who possessed a spare key helped open the flat, revealing the horrific scene.
Massive Police Investigation Leads to Arrest
The Ghatkopar police immediately registered a murder case and launched an extensive investigation. Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Ola revealed that investigators analyzed footage from approximately 150 CCTV cameras in and around the building complex.
Their breakthrough came when they identified a burqa-clad woman leaving Shehnaz's building around the time of the murder. Police teams meticulously tracked the suspect's route from Mukund Society to the main road, where she took an autorickshaw to Kurla Mall before eventually returning to her residence.
The investigation led to the identification and detention of Mumtaz Irfan Khan (51), the wife of Shehnaz's stepson. After interrogation, Mumtaz was formally arrested on Friday morning, more than 36 hours after the crime was discovered.
Property Dispute Identified as Motive
According to police statements, the murder stemmed from a long-standing property dispute over inheritance rights to 3-4 flats that belonged to Shehnaz's late husband, Anees, who passed away in 2018.
Shehnaz, who had no children of her own, had been living alone since her husband's death. The property dispute involved children from Anees's second wife, Ayesha, making Mumtaz the daughter-in-law of Ayesha.
During interrogation, Mumtaz allegedly confessed to visiting Shehnaz on Wednesday around 6 PM to discuss the property matter. The conversation escalated into a heated argument, during which Mumtaz allegedly pushed the elderly woman in a fit of rage.
"Shehnaz fell, and Mumtaz struck her with a blunt object on the head and even attempted to strangle her," revealed a police officer involved in the investigation. The officer added that Mumtaz also took some items from the flat, which authorities are currently verifying.
The police investigation involved an impressive coordination of resources, including 10 specialized teams comprising personnel from the crime detection unit, surveillance team, Anti-Terrorism Squad, Motor Vehicle Theft team, and Zone VII crime detection officers.
A police official commented that "technical analysis and human intelligence played a key role in cracking the case," highlighting the effectiveness of modern investigative techniques in solving serious crimes in Mumbai.
