Mumbai Police, probing the murder of software professional Esther Anuhya, are trying to find out whether the arrested accused's friend, whose bike was used in the crime, did anything that would amount to abatement of the crime or whether he could be made a witness in the case.
Crime branch of the city police on Monday arrested Chandrabhan Sanap (38), who has several cases registered against him and worked as a driver in Nashik, for allegedly murdering Anuhya.
On January 5, Sanap rode the victim to an isolated place off the Eastern Express Highway from Kurla Railway Terminus and he banged her head to the ground, trangled her to death with her stole when she resisted, police said.
The bike used in the offence belonged to his friend Nandkishore Sahu, who had also been informed by Sanap about the killing.
"After the murder, Sanap told everything to Sahu. While Sanap escaped to Nashik on the same day, Sahu, who developed a cold feet, went to his native place in Jharkhand, instead of alerting the cops," said a police officer.
"We are recording the statements of Sanap and Sahu, who has been brought to the city yesterday itself. After examining their statements, we will get an idea if Sahu's role was limited to merely lending the bike without knowing Sanap's intentions or in any manner he abetted the crime," the officer said.
Based on the facts that emerge during the probe, the investigators would examine if Sahu would be "our star witness or the accomplice of Sanap", police said.