Navy sailor 'cooked up' his own kidnapping and murder, says Palghar police

Surajkumar M Dubey. File pic

The Palghar police, who are probing the alleged kidnapping of Indian Navy sailor Suraj Dubey, has ruled out the abduction theory and said that the sailor was seen in CCTV footage buying lose diesel from a petrol pump in Talasari.

Superintendent of police Dattatrey Shinde, on Wednesday, said, "We are yet to establish how Dubey, who was seen roaming freely outside Chennai airport, reached Palghar district. But on February 5, he (Dubey) was caught in a CCTV footage at a petrol pump in Talasari. He is seen buying lose diesel at the petrol pump."

Shinde further hinted that the petrol pump may be brought to the book for selling 5-litre lose diesel worth Rs 300 in two plastic bottles. "He is seen in the CCTV footage at 5:50 am but in his statement, he told us that he was brought to the jungle by his kidnappers at 9 am. At the petrol pump, he was not being accompanied by anyone. So it is clear that he was not kidnapped and his statement given to us turned out to be incorrect," Shinde added.

Talking further, the officer said that Dubey was reeling under a huge financial crunch as he had approached 13 banks for heavy loans as per his CIBIL report. The investigators are shocked to learn how Dubey misguided everyone, including the villagers in Gholwad and the police officers, whom he gave the wrong statement before his death.

When the relatives called Dubey on his number, he responded to the call and replied 'Irfan' when asked 'who are you' by his relatives in Palamu. Shinde further said, "It seems to be a cooked up theory of kidnapping, as there is no character named Irfan. It was Dubey, who tried to misguide his family members by saying 'Irfan'."

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy may declare Dubey as a defaulter for not resuming duty on February 1, after a month-long leave during which he got engaged and was to get married in May.

Sources in Palghar police said they might file a closure report in the case.