Teen arrested after murder over money lost in online game

Indore: A 19-year-old youth was arrested in connection with a murder after a late-night argument over money lost in an online mobile game in Indore rural’s Betma area.

SP Rajendra Verma said that the body of Sameer Patel, a resident of Ghatabillod, was found on May 7 near a culvert on the Ghatabillod-Parer road under suspicious circumstances. Police had registered a case against an unidentified person and launched an investigation.

During the probe, officers scanned local inputs and questioned several suspects before zeroing in on Sajan Patel, a resident of Ghatabillod. Police said the accused initially tried to mislead investigators during questioning, but later allegedly confessed to killing Sameer following a dispute linked to money lost while playing an online game on a mobile phone.

Police arrested the accused and seized a motorcycle along with his mobile phone. Officials said further questioning is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events and whether any other angle is connected to the murder.

In another case in Betma, a man was allegedly murdered and robbed near Bhairav Baba temple in Betma area of Indore, with police claiming to have cracked the blind case and arrested a 19-year-old accused.

SP Verma said incident came to light after Rahul Pawar lodged a complaint stating that his brother was attacked while returning home on May 6 night near Sindhigura village.

The assailants allegedly intercepted him near Bhairav Baba temple, assaulted him with sharp weapons, killed him and fled with cash, a mobile phone and a purse.

Police registered a case under Sections 103(1), 309(6) and 311 of the BNS and began an investigation.

Officials said the victim had suffered serious injuries in the attack and the accused had targeted him with the intention of robbery.

Acting on technical surveillance, local intelligence inputs and questioning of suspects, police identified accused Vicky alias Vikku, son of Dinesh Girwar, a resident of Sindhigura village under Betma police station limits.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that he and three others had planned the robbery and attacked Rahul Pawar with a sharp-edged weapon before escaping with his belongings.

Police arrested the 19-year-old accused, while efforts are underway to trace the remaining three suspects involved in the crime. Officials said multiple teams were formed to crack the case due to the seriousness of the murder.