A Mumbai sessions court on Tuesday sentenced two former staffers of a salon chain to life imprisonment for the murder of their 28-year-old colleague Kirti Vyas in 2018.
Vyas’s body remains unfound. Under various Indian Penal Code sections, including 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence), Additional sessions judge M G Deshpande on Monday found Siddhesh Tamhankar and his female colleague guilty. On Tuesday, the judge handed down life imprisonment to both of them.
Motives and Circumstances
The pair held positions as account executive and account manager at a salon chain in suburban Andheri, reporting to Vyas, who served as the finance manager. Vyas purportedly met her demise due to issuing a memo to one of the accused for substandard work.
Alongside the threat of losing their jobs, the duo harbored fears of their affair being exposed. The victim’s remains have yet to be discovered. She was last witnessed in the company of the accused.
The police cracked the case following a DNA test conducted on blood samples discovered in one of the accused’s car, purportedly utilized in the crime, as stated by authorities.
Investigation and Arrests
Vyas disappeared on March 16, 2018, prompting her family to review CCTV footage from Grant Road and Mumbai Central railway stations in their search for her, prior to filing a missing person’s complaint at DB Marg police station.
According to her family’s account to the police, Vyas habitually boarded the 9.11 am Virar-bound suburban train from Grant Road to reach the salon in Andheri. Subsequently, the case was transferred to the Crime Branch, resulting in the apprehension of the two suspects.
