Nagpur: A crucial CCTV clue dubbed the 'Red Cap Theory' helped Nagpur Crime Branch and Gittikhadan police identify the key suspect in a blind murder case within 24 hours. The prime suspect, a milkman, is yet to be nabbed while another accused has been rounded up.
Murder Details
Loan recovery agent Ajay Shriwas (42) was found dead with more than 25 stab wounds in his flat at Gourkhede Complex under Gittikhadan police station limits on Saturday. Police revealed that the suspect entered the house without asking anyone and was aware of the CCTV placement, taking precautions to hide his identity.
CCTV Footage Breakthrough
The CCTV camera at the spot was non-operational, but footage from nearby areas proved decisive. One camera captured a man wearing a red cap, with his face covered by a scarf and his chin lowered, hurriedly leaving the area on foot and boarding an autorickshaw near a junction close to the crime scene. This footage became the breakthrough lead.
The Red Cap Theory
The distinctive red cap helped police track the suspect's movements across multiple CCTV cameras. The 'Red Cap Theory', as police called it, guided the entire probe. Crime Branch teams scanned footage from several locations and questioned dozens of people, including friends, loanees, and acquaintances of the victim. A woman from Pachpaoli with whom Ajay had a close relationship, along with her husband, was also questioned.
Prime Suspect Identified
The trail ultimately led to a milkman who is now the prime suspect. Police teams from Crime Branch and Gittikhadan are actively pursuing him. Senior officers noted that Ajay had no criminal background and no immediate motive was visible.
Background
Ajay's mother passed away just 14 days earlier, and the final rituals were performed on Friday. Police believe the murder happened soon after Ajay returned from a lunch with friends on Saturday. The fact that the victim allowed the killer inside suggests they were acquainted, said police.
