Former bar employee held over Mumbai triple murder case

The Mumbai police on Monday claimed to have cracked the triple murder case at a suburban bar with the arrest of a former employee.

The motive behind the murder of the three people, all employees of Natraj Bar in suburban Vidyavihar, is personal enmity, said the police.

The accused, Pravin alias Sonu, was arrested early on Monday morning, said the police, adding they are also probing if more people were involved in the crime.

The deceased, identified as Basant Madoria, 30, Raja Dakolia, 33, and Bhaskar Dalvi, 54, were stabbed around 10-15 times. Their  bodies were found lying in a pool of blood by a sweeper on the premises of the bar on Sunday morning.

While Madoria and Dakolia were working as waiters at Natraj Bar, Dalvi was the watchman.

According to the police, Pravin used to work at the same bar.

"During initial questioning, the accused said that the deceased used to constantly pick fights with the accused and verbally abuse him. Infuriated by this, Pravin came to the bar on the night of January 4 and consumed liquor there. Before leaving, he fought with the deceased and stabbed them to death," said the police.

While Madoria and Dakolia were working in the bar since the last five years, Dalvi had been employed there for the past 12 years.

Police zeroed in on Pravin after recording the statements of over 20 employees of the bar, including female singers and waiters.

Police said Madoria and Dakolia used to work late hours in the bar. They would often sleep in the garage for a few hours to take the first train to go to their destinations.

The bar was closed at around 2.30 am on Sunday by its staff after carrying out regular cleaning work of the premises.

"CCTV cameras were also switched off before closing the bar as per routine," police said.

Police suspect that the murders might have taken place some time between 2.30 am and 5 am.