Aarey murder: police find gaps in youngsters’ statements

The Aarey police, investigating the death of Mumbai Police officer Narendra Shinde’s son, Atharva, said on Saturday that the 12 youngsters questioned so far have made conflicting statements due to their intoxication on the night before Atharva’s death, which is affecting the investigation.

Atharva, whose father is a police inspector with the Economic Offences Wing, attended a birthday party on Monday evening and subsequently went missing. His body was found near a lake in Aarey Colony on Wednesday morning. The Aarey police have registered a case of murder against unknown persons.

According to investigating officials, statements have been recorded in detail over the last two days from all the 12 youngsters who attended the party. All are in their late teens or earlier twenties. “We have been quizzing the youngsters extensively to try and pinpoint a possible motive behind Atharva being assaulted, as most of them at some point or the other saw him being assaulted. However, all of them were in varying degrees of intoxication through the night, and none of them has been able to give a coherent picture of the sequence of events,” an officer said.

The investigating team has questioned the youngsters at least twice, cross-checking their claims, but to no avail. “The youngsters were the only ones in close proximity to Atharva and their statements are crucial for the investigation. However, there are several gaps and discrepancies in their versions, which is impacting the investigation,” the officer said.

The youngsters have allegedly told the police that alcohol and drugs were being freely consumed at the party, and there were arguments among the revellers at least two to three times.

The police know that Atharva left the bungalow in Aarey Colony around 7 a.m. on Wednesday by jumping over the gate, and managed to make his way to the lake. A few eyewitnesses have told the police that they saw him limping towards the lake, and that he looked hurt. Post-mortem examination, meanwhile, has indicated blunt force trauma to his chest, which is believed to have been one of the factors for his death.

“We have recorded statements from all those present at the party and are working on the case,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone XII) Vinaykumar Rathod said.