An RTI (Right to Information Act) activist was allegedly murdered at a spa in the Worli area of Mumbai, Maharashtra, this week. The man, identified as Gurappa Waghmare, was found with his throat slit, adding a chilling twist to the case.
What made this murder particularly intriguing was the discovery of 22 names tattooed on the victim’s thigh. These names, according to the police, belonged to Waghmare’s potential enemies, hinting at a meticulously planned and targeted attack.
The murder case took a dramatic turn when police arrested at least three suspects in connection with the crime. Among those apprehended was the spa owner, Santosh Sherekar, whose name was included among the 22 inscribed on Waghmare’s thighs.
Police investigations revealed that Waghmare had a history of criminal activities, with 8 cognizable offenses and 22 non-cognizable reports registered against him. The victim was known to extort money from spa owners in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar.
The investigation revealed that Waghmare’s alleged extortion activities were the driving force behind the murder. Sherekar, fed up with Waghmare’s threats, allegedly hired contract killers to eliminate him.
Sherekar is believed to have paid ₹ 6 lakh to Mohammed Feroze Ansari (26) to carry out the murder. Ansari, along with another accused, Saquib Ansari, carried out the murder using the separated blades of a pair of scissors.
Ansari and Sherekar were known to each other, with Ansari also running a spa in Nallasopara, which was shut down after a raid initiated by Waghmare.
The investigation revealed that Sherekar had requested Ansari to stop Waghmare’s extortion activities and subsequently asked him to eliminate him. Ansari and Saquib Ansari, after a three-month recce, carried out the murder at Sherekar’s spa.
The murder was meticulously planned, with the assailants tailing Waghmare from a liquor bar where he had celebrated his birthday with his girlfriend. CCTV footage captured the assailants, wearing raincoats, following Waghmare to Sherekar’s spa.
Waghmare’s girlfriend, who was present at the spa during the murder, claimed to have learned about the incident only at 9:30 am the next morning and informed Sherekar. However, Sherekar took over two hours to inform the police, raising further suspicions.
Police are currently investigating the role of Waghmare’s girlfriend in the murder conspiracy. The authorities have also apprehended two more individuals suspected of being involved in the murder plot, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to five.
The case highlights the complex web of connections and motives behind the murder, with the victim’s criminal history and alleged extortion activities playing a key role in his demise. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities looking to uncover all the facts surrounding this shocking crime.
