Nagpur: Hours after a decomposed body of a 48-year-old city hotelier, Rahul Shahu, was found on Wednesday noon, a borrower whom Shahu was allegedly harassing over excess interest on a loan was arrested. The dispute is believed to have led to the killing, though police said other angles, including online betting losses, are still under probe. An illicit relationship angle is also being investigated. Police have not yet disclosed the identity of the accused. Jaripatka police said Shahu’s scooter, found nearby, gave cops the key clue to nab the accused shortly after midnight on Wednesday. Shahu’s body was found stuffed in two sacks, including one embossed with the name of a popular chicken brand. Shahu, a father of two, went missing on April 20 after leaving his Chhaoni hotel around 8.15pm, when he told his staff he would return in an hour after attending important work. Shahu’s phone was switched off, prompting his wife, Vanita, to file a missing complaint at Sadar police station the next day.Exactly 48 hours later, on April 22, those residing near Nara crematorium in north Nagpur complained of stench from a sewage nullah in Jaripatka police limits. Hours later, police recovered Shahu’s body. Police stated he suffered 16 stab wounds, including two deep cuts on his forehead.He was identified from an ‘Om Sairam’ tattoo on his left hand. Senior police officials, including Joint CP Navinchandra Reddy, DCPs Sanjay Pakhale and Rahul Mathnikar, ACP Satyaveer Bandiwar, and Jaripatka police inspector Anil Takshande, had mobilised multiple crime branch teams to crack the case. One team scanned CCTV footage from Kadbi Chowk, Patankar Chowk, Kamptee Road and Jaripatka Ring Road. The other teams questioned hotel employees, family members, friends and potential suspects.Shahu was reportedly debt-ridden after his chit fund business collapsed. He borrowed heavily from multiple sources and took Rs 8 lakh from a woman in Saoner taluka by falsely promising her a job. The woman had filed a complaint against him.
