Mumbai:
A 52-year-old Marol resident allegedly strangled both his parents, stayed with the corpses for two days, ate and drank beside them, and even tucked them in as if they were asleep, before fleeing the house when the bodies started rotting.
The MIDC police are on the hunt for the suspect, Moiz Bharmal, on the run after allegedly murdering his parents in their Marol residence sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning. He left a note behind, accusing his parents of being malicious to him after he lost his job.
The unsettling and gruesome crime was brought to the notice of MIDC police on Monday evening, after residents of Manisha Apartments located at Church Road, Marol, Andheri (East) complained of a foul stench, said cops.
"The residents thought it was a dead rat. But when the smell was traced to the first floor residence of Nooruddin Bharmal (87), they called his daughter, who stays in Chennai, as the apartment door was locked.
She told them to inform the police. A team of MIDC police reached the spot and broke open the door. Nooruddin, along with wife Zubeida (83) were found dead in the living room," said Suhas Varke, deputy commissioner of police (Zone X).
The police took the bodies to a nearby hospital, where preliminary examination revealed strangulation marks on their necks. Detailed post mortem reports are awaited. The level of decomposition suggests that both were killed two days ago, the police said.
"If the time of death estimated by doctors is correct, Moiz may have even stayed in the house for two days after killing his parents, as the house was only seen locked on Monday morning," said ACP Prakash Wadkar.
"A search of the house revealed a note written in English and signed by the couple's son Moiz. Although he has not directly claimed responsibility for the murders, the contents of the note cast heavy suspicion on him," said a police official.
"Moiz has written that his parents were mean and spiteful towards him after he lost his job as a restaurant manager some months ago. Before that, he lived in Pune with his wife and son Hussain (23). After his wife's death 10 years ago, he came to stay with his parents in Mumbai."
Hussain told the police in his statement that his father has been mentally disturbed after his mother passed away.
That is not all. The note hints that Moiz may be contemplating ending his own life, said cops. The letter mentions that his last rites be carried out at the same place where one of his close friends was cremated, and that his son, Hussain, be taken care of.
It goes on to say that Hussain is a good kid and is on the right path, and Moiz's last wish is for him to get a new pair of glasses, something he badly needs.
Based on the insinuations apparent in the note's content, the police fear that Moiz may be planning to kill himself, if he has not already done so.
Based on inquiries so far, cops believe that Moiz had planned the crime well in advance. He had asked the housemaid not to come to work starting last Friday until Tuesday.
"Moiz had a habit of disappearing for days together. We have many missing complaints lodged by his parents. We are now trying to locate the places he visited when he went missing," said ACP Wadkar.
"He had called the domestic help and asked her to come on Tuesday only after calling up," said DCP Varke.
Police Inspector Vijay Bagwe added, "We are questioning his friends in Pune. His son, Hussain, who has come to Mumbai, is assisting us with inquiries. It appears that Moiz did not use a cell phone so we cannot track him though one."