Absconder in Mira Road man murder case found hanging

MUMBAI: A day after the fourth accused was arrested for the abduction and murder of a Mira Road businessman, an absconding accused allegedly committed suicide by hanging from a tree in Palghar on Wednesday evening.
A suspect, Shiv Thakur, who allegedly set Shaikh's body on fire in an abandoned septic tank in the jungles of Birwadi in Dahanu, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in an isolated spot in Palghar. On Wednesday, the body of Thakur was found hanging at the isolated spot. Police suspect that he may have killed himself as he was on the run and police were close to nabbing him.
Three men Prashant Sankhe, Samdev Sankhe and Prashant Mahajan allegedly abducted and killed Arif Shaikh on May 9. They were arrested on Monday. Another accused Smita Shetty was arrested on Tuesday. All four are in police custody till May 22.The police was on the look out for four more suspects.Sankhe, the main accused had confessed to the murder and the role the other accused played. Police are ascertaining if Thakur had a role to play in the murder too. The body has been send for autopsy.
Shaikh who owned a factory Alpha Metals in Tembode Kashipada, Palghar, was to get to the factory on May 9 to pay the salaries. The accused had allegedly planned to abduct Shaikh on the day he would be carrying cash to pay workers' salary. The police are looking for the I20 car in which the body was carried to be burnt.