Nagpur: A woman’s body was found lying in a pool of blood with her throat slit near Indira Convent School in the city’s posh Civil Lines area on Wednesday afternoon. The victim, Maya Paserkar, 58, a domestic worker from Jawahar Colony, was killed by her son-in-law, Mustafa Khan, 22, after she failed to repay Rs 5 lakh loan, said police. Maya’s step-daughter, Geeta alias Muskan Parsekar, has also been named in the FIR for planning the murder. The couple was arrested within four hours of the crime.The chilling crime unfolded after Khan, a Haryana native working at an MIDC-based company, bought a vegetable knife in Hingna to kill Maya, if she refused to repay the loan.Khan had lent Rs 5 lakh to Maya in multiple instalments, believing her claims that the money was needed for her husband’s medical treatment. Khan was desperate to recover the loan to cover his rent and settle grocery bills, as creditors had cut him off.CCTV footage reviewed by the crime branch, with key inputs from constable Suresh Telewar, revealed Khan was trailing Maya while she was walking from Ahimsa Square towards Law College Square. The footage captured Khan, dressed in a red shirt and black trousers, following a wary Maya, who frequently glanced over her shoulder. Near a boundary wall, partially obscured by a tree, Khan grabbed her and slit her throat before fleeing. Maya, dressed in an orange saree, collapsed and succumbed to her injuries.Sources revealed Muskan, daughter of Maya’s husband’s first wife, played a critical role in the crime. Muskan, who was Khan’s third wife, allegedly advised him to cover his face before the attack to avoid identification. But a team led by assistant police inspector Gajanan Chambhare, with head constable Sunil Kuwar and others, nabbed Khan in Wanadongri.Earlier in the day, Khan had confronted Maya and demanded the money. When she suggested borrowing Rs 9,000 from a moneylender at Rs 1,000 monthly interest — expecting Khan to cover the interest — it infuriated him. This was the murder trigger, say police.Zonal DCP Nityanand Jha confirmed that CCTV evidence was pivotal in reconstructing the sequence of events. “The accused trailed the victim and attacked her on the footpath. We’re investigating all angles, including domestic disputes,” Jha said. Despite intermittent rainfall, forensic teams worked swiftly to preserve evidence, shielding bloodstains from being washed away. Items recovered included a broken blue bangle, a slipper, and Maya’s glasses.ACP Sudhir Nandanwar noted the challenges posed by rain. “Blood traces and DNA evidence can be compromised, but our team acted promptly.” Maya’s body was sent to GMCH for autopsy, and the crime scene remains sealed as police gather witness statements.
