Kidnappers of wannabe film producer booked for his murder

A day after highly decomposed body parts, suspected to be that of a Delhi-based wannabe film producer, were found in Ratnagiri, police today filed a murder case against the alleged kidnappers.

However, while the police strongly believe that the body parts are that of the abducted victim Karankumar Kakkad's (28), his family has expressed doubts whether they belong to him.

After the remains of the decomposed body were found at Chiplun in Ratnagiri district yesterday, the four accused-- small time actress-cum-model Simran Sood and her gangster associates Vijay Palande, Dhananjay Shinde and Manoj Gajkosh-- were booked for murder, crime branch official said.

Though the DNA samples were yet to be collected from the forensic laboratory that would enable the cops to identify the body, police strongly believe that the body parts are that of Kakkad, who was allegedly kidnapped on March 5.

"Palande confessed to the crime stating along with his two male associates, he murdered Kakkad before chopping the body into pieces at the latter's rented residence in suburban Amboli on the night of March 6. According to Palande, the body was then taken to Kumbharli Ghat near Chiplun in a BMW car and then disposed off. Later, they drove to Pune, where the four wheeler was abandoned," the official said.

Since Palande confessed his role in the murder, he was booked, along with others for the murder, the official said adding, "If the DNA reports come negative, the murder charge would be withdrawn, if required. But still the question persists how Palande knew there would be a body near the Ghat."

A missing person's report was registered in Amboli police station, following a complaint by Kakkad's brother Aneesh, a real estate agent, stating that his brother Karankumar could not be traced. However, it was later changed to an abduction case after the arrest of Sood on April 12.

Before Sood's arrest, her three aides, who are former associates of gangster Santosh Shetty, were held in a senior citizen Arunkumar Tikku's murder case and are currently in the custody of Oshiwara police.

Oshiwara and Amboli police along with Palande went to Kumbharli Ghat near Chiplun yesterday where they discovered the body remains.

Meanwhile, according to police, the Kakkad's family was still in a hope that the body was not of their abducted kin Karankumar.

"Kakkad family says the decomposed body parts did not appear to be of Karankumar. They are also eagerly awaiting DNA report," said an officer.

In a related development, the Mercedes car used by Palande before his arrest belonged to a person hailing from Karnataka, police said adding, "The car owner had been summoned to Mumbai."

A CCTV footage has also emerged showing Palande and Shinde at a shopping mall in Mumbai on March 9 where they allegedly used Kakkad's credit cards to make purchases.