Businessman's body found in jute sack in Kolkata, biz partner arrested
Times of India | 13 March 2024
KOLKATA: The body of a missing businessman was discovered under a water tank on the outskirts of Kolkata, a police officer said on Wednesday.
The body of Bhavo Lakhani, who lived in the Ballygunge area, was found in a jute sack beneath the tank at his business partner Anirban Gupta's residence.
The police raided Gupta's house after neighbours noticed suspicious construction activity around the tank.The body was found around 3am in the Nimta area, on the northern fringes of the city, police said.
Following interrogation after his arrest, Gupta allegedly confessed to striking Lakhani forcefully on the head with a cricket wicket during a heated argument on Monday morning at his residence, and subsequently concealing the body in a jute sack, the officer added.
Forensic tests and a post-mortem examination revealed that the deceased had been subjected to physical assault, with visible injury marks on the body, including the head.
Investigations revealed that Gupta had borrowed a large sum of money from Lakhani but failed to repay it.
"Lakhani had visited Gupta's residence to discuss the repayment, but his phone became unreachable soon after," the officer said based on preliminary investigations.
The police are unsure if more than one person was present during the murder, but it is clear that multiple individuals were involved in concealing the body.
Both the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate and the Kolkata Police are investigating the incident and the events leading up to it.