Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Nov 15: The accused Praveen Chowgule who was arrested in the case of gruesome murder of a woman and her three children in Nejar has confessed to the crime before the police , SP Arun Kumar said on Wednesday, November 15 .
The police is thorougly investigating the relationship or jilted love angel between accused Chowgule and slain airhostess Ainaz, he added. This apart, the police is also probing into the other speculated angles of monetary transactions between Ainaz and Praveen, alleged squabble between Praveen's wife and Ainaz's family over recovery of money owed to him and consequent provocation to murder.
Praveen Chowgule, a flight cabin crew member in an international airlines was arrested from Belagavi in a joint and covert operation by the Udupi and Belagavi police on November 14. .
Addressing the media here, the SP said that accused Chowgule had confided that his target for murder on November 12 was his cabin colleague air hostess Ainaz but since her mother Haseena (46), sister Afnan (23) and brother Aseem (12) rushed to her rescue during the attack, he stabbed them to death as well. The motive of killing the others was also to eradicate evidence against him. Ainaz's grandmother Hajinabba also was stabbed but she survived. According to Superintendent of Police Arun Kumar the motive of the crime will be known during investigation and the weapon used by the accused will be confiscated soon.
Two or three motives had been identified for the crime, the SP said and added that the police will go ahead with the prosecution as per the accused's statement.
The district police chief also Praveen Chowgule had used knife as a weapon.
Arun Kumar said the act of crime was pre-planned and pre-determined as per the accused's statement.
He said the police will get more clarity after the investigation.
Praveen was working as a cabin crew in Mangaluru and he hailed from Sangli in Maharashtra.
Praveen is married, the district police chief said and added that the police are yet to verify his service record with Maharashtra state police.
"As per information available with us he has not served in CISF or any other service," he said.
He will be produced to court and will be taken into custody, Arun Kumar said.
The SP said that the family was co-operating with the police.
"They have provided all the necessary documents and mobile phone handsets," he said.
"Our investigation was focused on who committed the crime and we will find other aspects as soon as possible," Arun Kumar added.
Chowgule remanded to 14 days' police custody
Later accused Praveen Chowgule was produced before court.
Judge Shyam Prakash of Court of Additional Civil Judge and First Class Judicial Magistrate, Udupi remanded him to 14 days' police custody till November 28.