However, the police cracked the case within eight hours and arrested four of his friends in afternoon.
According to a police official, robbery was the motive behind the crime.
The victim, identified as Ajay Jaiswal, was alone at home for the past few days as his parents had gone to their native place in Uttar Pradesh, said senior police inspector Rajendra Patil.
When they returned at around 7.30 am today, they found him dead.
There were injury marks around his neck, the officer said, adding that a case of murder has been registered.
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"During investigation, it came light that some of Jaiswal's friends had stayed at his residence last night," the officer said.
He said the police then detained Sharif Ali, Shehzad Ali and Saddam Sheikh from nearby areas.
"Upon interrogating them, it was revealed that a fourth person, Niyaz Azmi, was also involved. He was later detained from his residence in Powai," Patil said, adding that all the four were subsequently placed under arrest.
Explaining the sequence of events, the officer said the acccused had consumed liquor with Jaiswal at his residence.