No bail for lifeguard in Sane murder case
The sessions court on Friday rejected the bail plea of the 32year-old lifeguard, Mithu Singh, booked for murder of MBBS student Swadichha Sane. Enrolled at the Grant Medical College, Byculla, the 22-year-old deceased had left her house to appear for her third year exam on November 29, 2021. However, the family didn't hear from her after that. According to the crime branch,
Sane got down at Bandra and went to Bandstand. There, she met Singh and they were together for long. It is suspected that the accused tried to get intimate with her and killed her when she objected to his physical overtures.
In his bail plea, Singh denied the allegation while claiming that “there is no cogent material on record to show that prima facie he had any motive or was seen by any persons committing the alleged crime on the girl.” He further pointed out that the prosecution has not given any explanation on the delay of one-and-a-half years in arresting him. Singh averred that he was detained in a police station on November 30, 2021, and was tortured to confess the crime he didn't commit.
Contending the claim, the crime branch said that Sane and Singh were last spotted together at Bandstand on November 30, 2021. Moreover, the accused even clicked photos with Sane at around 2.26am on the same date, said the investigating agency, adding that pictures were found in his phone.
In its submission before the court, the crime branch said that the accused knew about the death of an 18-year-old girl, Tarannum Ansari, who fell in the sea near Bandstand in January 2016, while clicking selfies. However, her body has still not been found. Hence, Singh seemingly disposed of Sane's body at the very spot, thinking even it won't be traced. Negating the chance of the duo being in a relationship, the crime branch mentioned that Sane was already seeing one of her classmate.
Singh allegedly killed Sane while trying to sexually assault her; police have found their photos taken before the incident