The Naigaon police in Vasai arrested two individuals on Thursday in connection with the brutal murder of 75-year-old petrol pump owner Ramchandra Kakrani. Kakrani’s body was discovered inside his car, parked near Vasai Phatak on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway on August 25, 2024. Police confirmed the murder was a result of a robbery.
The arrested suspects have been identified as Mukesh Khubchandani, the prime suspect, and Anil Thappa. Police are still searching for a third suspect, who remains unidentified. The incident occurred after Kakrani left his petrol pump in Virar with Khubchandani, carrying Rs 50,000 in cash. He had been missing from home since that day.
Following Kakrani’s murder, a manhunt was launched to arrest the perpetrators. The suspects took Rs 50,000 in cash, a watch worth Rs 6 lakh, and a gold ring valued at Rs 15 lakh. Police later recovered the gold ring and watch from the two arrested suspects.
Khubchandani and Thappa fled to Gujarat after the crime and were later traced to Uttar Pradesh. With the help of local police, they were detained in Gorakhpur district on Wednesday and brought back to Maharashtra on Thursday. Investigations revealed that Khubchandani, a known criminal, met Thappa and the third suspect in jail.
Senior Police Inspector Ramesh Bhame of Naigaon police station stated that three teams were formed, including officers from the Vasai Crime Branch and the Central Unit. The teams initially traced the suspects to Gujarat before locating them in Gorakhpur. “The search for the third accused is ongoing, and we are continuing our investigation into the case,” Bhame said.
