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The gruesome murder of Guru Waghmare, an RTI activist, at a spa in Worli, Mumbai, has sent shockwaves through the city. The 52-year-old victim was allegedly killed by a group of individuals who conspired and executed the crime. The investigation, however, took an unusual turn, leading to the arrest of three suspects, including the spa owner himself, thanks to a chilling clue tattooed on the victim's body.
Waghmare, known for his activism and work as a police informer, had an ominous premonition about his fate. He had tattooed the names of 22 individuals on his thigh, stating that they would be responsible if anything happened to him. The names included that of Santosh Sherekar, the owner of the spa where he met his demise, a fact that proved crucial in the police investigation.
According to police investigations, Waghmare had a history of extorting money from spa owners in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane, and even harassed spa owners in neighbouring states. He had eight FIRs and 22 non-cognisable offences registered against him for these activities. The police revealed that Waghmare had been demanding money from Sherekar and another spa owner, Mohamed Firoz Ansari, for some time.
Firoz, owning a spa in Nalasopara, had previously been targeted by Waghmare in 2023, when the RTI activist tipped off the police and led to a raid that shut down Firoz's establishment. This incident ignited a bitter grudge in Firoz, prompting him to seek revenge. Firoz, with the help of Sherekar, decided to eliminate Waghmare. Sherekar, in turn, paid Firoz a hefty sum of Rs. 6 lakhs for carrying out the murder, promising to cover his legal expenses as well.
Firoz then hired Shakib, a contract killer from Delhi, for the job, offering him Rs. 4 lakhs. The trio meticulously planned the murder, with Firoz meticulously observing Waghmare's movements for three months before approaching Shakib. On Tuesday, Waghmare was spotted at a bar in Sion with the manager, an employee, and a female staff member of the spa. After their dinner, they returned to the Worli spa.
Around 1.30 am on Wednesday, Firoz and Shakib, cloaked in raincoats to disguise their identities, barged into the spa. They brutally murdered Waghmare, slitting his throat and stabbing him repeatedly in the stomach. The police, utilizing the CCTV footage from the spa and the bar, tracked the suspects' movements. They noticed that the duo had purchased gutka from a nearby pan shop, paying through Google Pay.
With the help of the pan shop owner, the police obtained Firoz's mobile number and apprehended him at his residence in Nalasopara. Firoz confessed to the crime and revealed the role of his accomplices. Meanwhile, Shakib, who had fled to Delhi by train, was tracked down and arrested at the Kota railway station with the assistance of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Sherekar, detained by the Worli police, was subsequently arrested after his role in the murder was confirmed.
The arrest of the three suspects, including the spa owner, has brought some closure to the gruesome murder of Guru Waghmare. However, the case raises several disturbing questions about the rampant extortion and violence that plague the spa industry and highlights the need for tighter regulations and stricter enforcement to ensure the safety of individuals operating in this sector.
Source: Names tattooed on thigh of deceased help cops crack murder of RTI activist killed at Worli spa