Man held for elderly woman’s murder

Mumbai:Police have arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with murder of a senior citizen in her house in suburban Mulund.

Melvin Selvin, a courier boy, was arrested yesterday in connection with the murder of 65-year-old Mary Swamy at her home in slums in Mulund (East) on Monday, police said today, adding that the accused is a relative of the deceased.

Police suspect robbery was the motive behind the crime.

“When our officers went to Swamy’s residence (Monday), we saw that blood was coming from her earlobes. We suspect that theft could be the motive behind the murder and accordingly launched our investigation,” said DCP (Zone VII) Vinay Rathod.

He said Swamy’s gold chain and gold earrings worth Rs 75,000 were found missing from her house.

The breakthrough came when Vikhroli police received information from their informers about Selvin.

“We had credible information about Selvin and based on it he was picked up from his residence in Bhandup and during the course of questioning he confessed to the crime,” said Rathod.

Police have recovered a clutch wire allegedly used by Selvin to strangulate Swamy.

He was booked under sections 302 (punishment for murder) and 397 (robbery) of Indian Penal Code.