Mumbai: Over two months after a five-year-old girl died under mysterious circumstances in Byculla, the police on Friday arrested her neighbour in connection with her murder, after samples taken from under the accused’s fingernails matched fibres of the victim’s clothing.
Manvi Ingle, the daughter of a city police constable, was found dead in the compound of New Hind building in MHADA Colony, Byculla on December 19 last year. The injuries were consistent with a fall from a great height. Manvi was staying with her parents on the 15th floor, and as the balcony wall was too high for her to have climbed it, the police initiated a murder investigation.
According to the Byculla police, Rekha Sutar, who lives next door to the Ingles, was a suspect as she had recently fought with the family. However, Ms. Sutar repeatedly denied involvement, and the police could not pinpoint a possible motive.
“We ultimately took samples from under Rekha’s fingernails and from Manvi's clothing and sent them to the Forensic Sciences Laboratory (FSL) in Kalina. On Friday, we got reports from the FSL stating the samples had matched,” an officer with Byculla police station said.
Based on the report, the police picked up Ms. Sutar from her residence for questioning on Friday and confronted her with the report. When she was not able to provide a satisfactory explanation, she was placed under arrest in the evening. Senior PI Avinash Shingte, Byculla police station, confirmed the arrest. “We will be producing her in court on Saturday and seek her custody,” he said.
The accused has been charged with murder under the IPC. The motive behind the murder is not clear yet, and the accused is being interrogated, police said.
