A BAMS doctor was among two persons arrested yesterday for allegedly killing his 56-year-old friend in the latter's apartment in Bharuch on April 8, police said on April 15.
 

A police officer said robbery was the motive behind the crime, as prime accused Dr Sarfaraz Ghadiyali was running a debt of Rs 3 lakh. The other accused is identified as Javed Sheikh (29) who was working as a compounder for Dr Ghadiyali. Suleman Mahamad Bava alias Manar Bava was found dead in his apartment in Bharuch last Sunday, with a stab wound. "He was living alone in the flat since he divorced his Pakistani wife several years ago," said police inspector Sunil Tarade. He said Bava became close with Dr Ghadiyali and Sheikh and would visit their clinic in Lallubhai Chakla area in Bharuch regularly.

"Bava used to share information with the duo about his hobby of collecting antique coins and foreign currency notes. Dr Ghadiyali and Sheikh used to visit Bava's place frequently," the police officer said. He said on the night of April 8, Dr Ghadiyali and Sheikh entered Bava's flat and allegedly strangulated him before stabbing him. It was Dr Ghadiyali who informed the police about the death of his friend Bava on April 10, following which a case of accidental death was registered and the body was sent for postmortem, he said.

The postmortem report revealed that Bava was strangulated and stabbed, prompting the police to set up multiple teams to trace the accused. "During investigation, we recorded statements of Dr Ghadiyali and Sheikh separately. We started suspecting them after their statements on their whereabouts on the night of the incident differed," said Tarade. He said Dr Ghadiyali and Sheikh "confessed" about committing the crime during interrogation.

The inspector said Dr Ghadiyali owed Rs three lakh to his lenders and allegedly hatched the plan to kill Bava who was living alone. "The duo took away ancient coins and foreign currency from the deceased s apartment after killing him. Police have recovered a total of 1,760 ancient coins worth Rs 5 lakh and Rs 45,630 cash in foreign and Indian currencies from them," said the officer. The duo have been booked under various sections of the IPC for murder and loot. Further investigation is underway.