Thane Police Solve Murder Mystery with Clues from Gunny Bag Found Near Kalyan Creek

Thane, 30th January 2025: In June 2019, a gunny bag containing the partially burnt body of a woman was discovered near a creek in Kalyan taluka, Maharashtra. While the Thane Rural police had limited evidence, three crucial clues emerged: chicken feathers, an amulet with Bengali inscriptions, and henna on the woman’s hands.

Upon arriving at the scene on Raya-Khadavli Road, police found the woman’s body wrapped in a dirty gunny bag, with chicken feathers inside. Noticing a square amulet with Bengali inscriptions on her waist and henna on her hands, the authorities began investigating. These findings led the police to focus on chicken shops in the area and search for Bengali-speaking individuals or possible Bangladeshi immigrants.

The henna and amulet pointed towards Bangladesh, prompting further investigation. Information from locals directed the police to Jane-Aalam (Aalam) Shaikh, a 33-year-old who owned a chicken shop in Baneli village, near Titwala. Locals confirmed that Aalam had been seen with the woman, later identified as Moni Kumar, 25 and that they were reportedly in a relationship. Additionally, it was noted that Aalam had not been seen after closing his chicken shop on June 22, 2019.

By tracking Aalam’s phone, police discovered he had recently been in Thane before travelling to West Bengal. With the help of local authorities, a police team apprehended him in Birbhum district, West Bengal, on July 8, 2019.

Investigations revealed that Aalam had lent Kumar Rs 2.5 lakh in small instalments over two years. When he requested repayment, Kumar allegedly refused and threatened to expose their relationship to his family. This angered Aalam, who, with the assistance of his cousin, Maniruddin Aabu Shaikh, allegedly murdered Kumar. The pair reportedly went to Kumar’s home in Khadavli, strangled her with a muffler, wrapped her body in a gunny bag from Aalam’s shop, set it on fire, and discarded it near a creek on June 22, 2019.

Further investigations revealed that Aalam had disposed of the SIM cards used by him and Kumar in a river. However, call records showed frequent communication between them. Police later recovered the muffler used in the crime and a memory card containing a picture of the couple together.

Aalam was charged with murder and causing the disappearance of evidence under the Indian Penal Code. In a September 9, 2020 ruling, Additional Sessions Judge S D Bhagat noted that the circumstantial evidence pointed to Aalam’s involvement in the murder and conspiracy, rejecting his bail application due to his complicity in the crime.