Thane [India], October 17: Two minors have been detained in Thane for allegedly murdering their 17-year-old friend to steal his gold chain, with police suspecting that the planned theft was intended to fund a birthday celebration and the purchase of a motorcycle.
The case came to light after the teenager went missing from his home in Azad Nagar, Thane West, on the evening of September 24. His parents filed a missing-person complaint the following day, prompting Kasarvadavali police to begin an investigation.
Missing Teenager Case Turns Into Murder Investigation
During the initial investigation, police questioned the missing boy’s friends and examined available CCTV footage. Investigators also analysed mobile phone records and questioned people connected to the teenager to establish his movements before he disappeared.
According to the police investigation, inconsistencies in the statements of those questioned led officers to conduct further interrogation on October 15. One of the detained minors allegedly disclosed that he and another friend had killed the teenager near Brahmand Phase 2 on the night of September 24.
Police have been investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing and the events that followed. The victim’s body was subsequently recovered from the area.
Gold Chain Allegedly Became the Motive
Investigators suspect that the two minors planned to take their friend’s gold chain and use the proceeds to meet personal expenses. Police said the alleged motive included arranging money for a birthday party and purchasing a motorcycle.
According to the investigation, the victim was allegedly attacked with a knife and a heavy stone. The accused are also suspected of returning to the location the following day and setting the body on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence.
The allegations are part of the ongoing investigation, and the circumstances of the crime will be examined through the legal process.
Police Examined CCTV Footage and Mobile Records
Kasarvadavali police examined footage from approximately 80 to 90 CCTV cameras in the surrounding area and along routes linked to the teenager’s last reported movements. Investigators also analysed call detail records and mobile phone data to identify discrepancies and reconstruct the sequence of events.
Police suspect that the accused attempted to mislead investigators by damaging the victim’s mobile phone and throwing its broken pieces onto a moving bus, potentially making it more difficult to trace the device’s movements.
The kidnapping case was subsequently expanded to include murder, destruction of evidence and other relevant offences. The investigation is continuing under the supervision of senior police officials.
Investigation Continues
The case has raised serious concerns about violence among teenagers and the circumstances that may lead young people to commit grave offences. Police are continuing to investigate the planning behind the alleged crime and the actions taken to conceal it.
As the investigation proceeds, the allegations against the two minors remain subject to the legal process. Their identities are being withheld to protect their privacy in accordance with the principles applicable to juvenile cases.
The investigation will establish the full sequence of events and determine the legal responsibility of those involved.
The accused are minors, and the allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings.
