Mumbai: Shopkeeper nabbed for killing woman, leaving body in van after sexual assault

MUMBAI: A Nalasopara shopkeeper was arrested for allegedly killing a female customer and having sex with the corpse last week.
The 32-year-old woman, who had gone to buy groceries, stepped into a novelty shop to check out toys for her children on June 26. When she did not return, her husband filed a missing complaint with Tuling police.
A foul smell troubled locals who informed police.A body was found in a pick-up van parked alongside a road on June
28. An autopsy confirmed death by strangulation and that sex was performed on the body. Palghar crime branch Vasai unit has begun investigations.
The van owner insisted the vehicle was parked there for many days. CCTV images nailed the suspect. The woman had entered the novelty shop on June 26 and got into an argument with the 30-year-old shopkeeper over the price of some toys.
The shopkeeper dragged her by her hair, took her to a room behind the shop, and as she was screaming, strangled her and slit her neck with a knife. He stayed with the body till night, wrapped it in plastic and dumped it in the van. He stayed alone in a room attached to the shop as his wife and children had gone to Rajasthan around 10 months back.
He told police he did it in a fit of anger and kept his shop open to pretend everything was normal. A murder case was registered and rape charges will be added.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)