Refusal to go back to his life of crime cost a 34-year-old Trombay resident his life after his brother-in-law allegedly stabbed him to death on Monday.

According to the police, the victim, Fakir Mohammed, used to stay with his wife Afroza and three children at Cheetah Camp in Trombay. While Afroza would do zari work for a living, Fakir would steal wallets and other valuables from commuters travelling by train or bus, which he would pass on to Ms. Afroza’s sister’s husband Anwar.

Investigating officers said Mr. Anwar, too, would send some boys working with him to pick pockets along with Fakir, and sell the valuables on the black market. Around four months ago, Fakir, Mr. Anwar, and three others were arrested by the Pune police in a theft case. After two months of staying behind bars, his family managed to bail him out.

“Following Fakir’s return, his family members told him that they were tired of bailing him out and that he would have to change his ways. Fakir agreed and gave up picking pockets. He had since then taken up working on a daily wage basis,” Prakash Salvi, senior police inspector, Trombay police station, said.

Ms. Afroza, in her statement to the police, said even though Fakir had quit committing crimes, Mr. Anwar kept asking him to steal for him, which had led to strained relations between the two brothers-in-law. On Sunday night, Mr. Anwar allegedly visited Fakir’s residence and demanded to see him. Fakir was out at the time and Ms. Afroza told him to stop pestering them. She made it clear that Fakir was not going to come back to work for him, and Mr. Anwar left after verbally abusing and threatening her.

“Mr. Anwar came back around 3.30 p.m. on Monday when we were both sitting outside our house. He demanded that Fakir work for him failing which he would teach him a lesson. Fakir retorted that he had no intention of going back to a life of crime and that he should leave us alone. A furious Mr. Anwar kicked Fakir and then stabbed him in the torso,” Ms. Afroza said in her statement.

The noise of the argument had already attracted the attention of neighbours. Mr. Anwar allegedly threatened to hurt them if they tried to intervene, and fled. Ms. Afroza and some neighbours helped a bleeding Fakir into a friend’s autorickshaw and took him to Shatabdi Hospital in Govandi, where he was declared dead before admission.

The Trombay police started a search for Mr. Anwar. “We found Mr. Anwar hiding in bushes near the creek close to Cheetah Camp and arrested him. He has been charged with murder under the Indian Penal Code. After being produced in court, he was remanded in police custody till February 18,” Mr. Salvi said.