The bodies of three persons, all employees of Natraj bar in suburban Vidyavihar, were found yesterday morning inside the bar by a sweeper.
The deceased, identified as Basant Madoria (30), Raja Dakolia (33) and Bhaskar Dalvi (54), were brutally stabbed to death. Each body had over ten stab wounds, police said.
While Madoria and Dakolia were working as waiters at the bar, Dalvi worked as the watchman.
Police today arrested Pravin Sonavane, a former employee of the bar, for the murder.
Sonavane was infuriated with the constant ragging by the three deceased with whom he was working, police said.
"During initial questioning, the accused said that the deceased used to constantly pick fights with him and verbally abuse him. Infuriated by this, Pravin came to the bar on the night of January 4 and consumed liquor there. Before leaving, he fought with the deceased and stabbed them to death," they said.
Sonavane, originally from Yavatmal, was employed with the bar since the past two months. He had, however, quit two days back.
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"Sonavane entered the bar on the night of January 4 after the bar closed. He was aware that the victims used to sleep inside the bar after finishing their work. He then stabbed the trio using a knife purchased by him from Manish Market in south Mumbai," Additional Commissioner of Police Qaiser Khalid told reporters.
Police zeroed in on Pravin after recording the statements of over 20 employees of the bar including female singers and waiters.
"We have recovered the deceased persons' watches and phones from the accused. After questioning the other employees we zeroed-in on Sonavane," Khalid said.
Police is also investigating if Sonavane was helped by others in the murder.