Representative image of crime scene.
Credit: iStock Photo
In yet another sensational crime in the Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR), a graphic designer and his wife were arrested for the brutal murder of the former’s girlfriend in Palghar district and later disposing the body off in neighbouring Gujarat.
The accused were identified as Manohar Shukla (34) and his wife Purnima (30).
The deceased was identified as Naina Mahat (28), a make-up artist in the entertainment industry who originally hailed from Nepal.
The Shukla couple, who are residents of Evershine City in Vasai East, were arrested by the Naigaon police, nearly a month after the victim went missing.
The victim came to the Vasai-Virar area of Palghar district in 2016 from Nepal and started working as a make-up artist.
During a film shoot in 2016, Manohar and Naina met and subsequently started a relationship. However, in 2018, Manohar married Poornima. Although married, Manohar continued his relationship with Naina.
In 2019, Poornima came to know about the affair and confronted Naina.
Thereafter, Naina filed a case of rape, robbery and assault against Manohar at the Waliv police station, after which he was arrested and later secured bail.
Over the years, Naina reportedly threatened Manohar to marry her, while the latter insisted that she withdraw the case against him.
On August 12, when Naina’s sister Jaya Mahat was unable to reach her, she approached the police and a missing person complaint was registered.
Police investigations reveal that on August 09, Manohar went to Naina's residence, where they had a verbal duel. In a fit of rage, Manohar allegedly dragged her to the bathroom and drowned her head in a bucket filled with water and left.
Hours later, the Shukla couple along with their two-year-old daughter, drove to Valsad with a trolley suitcase, in which they allegedly stuffed Naina's body. They then dumped the body in a creek, police sources said.
They were produced before a local court, which remanded them to police custody till September 16