Four arrested for murder four years after police closed case as one of accidental death

Mumbai: The crime branch has arrested four people who killed their friend four years ago and tried to pass it off as a road accident by dumping his body along with his bike in a valley.The arrested have been identified as Manoj Bhandge, Surendra Sonavadekar, Atish More and Shatruraj Shetty. According to DCP (crime) Navnath Dhavale, the crime branch team led by Atmaram Sawant received information about the murder conspiracy. The deceased Ashpak Mulani alias Nihal, a resident of Malshiras in Solapur district, was killed over a monetary dispute.The police said Nihal and the accused were running an investment scheme over which there was a financial dispute. The accused allegedly called Nihal to a hotel in Kudal, Sindhudurg district, where they partied and then an argument broke out over financial dealings. The accused allegedly hatched a conspiracy and decided to dump his body in a valley. The accused shifted the body in a private vehicle.One of the accused rode Nihal's bike.The accused allegedly attempted to destroy evidence by throwing Mulani's body along with his motorcycle into a deep gorge at Phondaghat. The case was initially registered at Kankavli police station as an accident.The accused have been handed over to Kankavali police station.