A wholesaler at the APMC market is battling for life after his client, a retailer, stabbed him on Wednesday at Masala market following a heated argument. Ashish Kirtikumar Dharani (40), the wholesaler who deals in coconuts, had been doing business with the accused, Shankar Chandrakant Malusare (33), for the past six years. For a few months, Malusare, who has a retail shop in Byculla, has been facing a financial crisis due to which he was not able to pay Dharani ₹4 lakh in dues. Dharani has been demanding the amount for the past few weeks.
According to APMC police, on Tuesday, Dharani called up Malusare and asked him to meet him at his shop in APMC market on Thursday in a threatening tone. “Malusare was afraid that Dharani and his workers might attack him and hence, he carried a knife with him on Wednesday to meet Dharani,” said Assistant Police Inspector Uddhav Damale.
After reaching Dharani’s shop, he started abusing Malusare and pushing and assaulting him. Malusare requested Dharani to not assault him and give him some time to repay the amount as he was facing financial issues. Dharani allegedly used abusive language and asked Malusare to earn money through his wife, at which point Malusare stabbed Dharani in his stomach and chest. Dharani was admitted to Vashi MGM Hospital in a critical condition.
“The injuries were grievous, and the heart has been injured as well. The victim has already undergone one surgery and has to go through two more. If the surgeries are successful, he might survive,” API Damale said.
Malusare has been arrested under Section 307 of the IPC for attempt to murder. “If something goes wrong with the victim, then the accused will be charged with murder,” Mr. Damale added. Malusare has been remanded to police custody till July 4.
