Sailor was not abducted in Chennai, cops discover

A team from Palghar police, along with a uniformed personnel of the local police, meets Suraj Dubey’s family in Palamu, Jharkhand

Investigations in the mysterious death of Indian Navy sailor Suraj Dubey, who was allegedly set on fire by three unknown kidnappers in a Palghar jungle on February 5, have revealed that the 24-year-old was not kidnapped in Chennai, but moving around there freely.

Superintendent of Police, Palghar, Datta Shinde said, "Dubey was not kidnapped outside Chennai airport; in fact, he was roaming freely outside Chennai airport, Metro station and a bus stand in the city. So, it will not be true to say that he was kidnapped just outside Chennai airport."

In his statement recorded in the hospital, Dubey had said that he was kidnapped by the trio outside Chennai airport in Tamil Nadu and bundled into an SUV on January 30. However, Dubey was seen visiting an ATM alone on February 1, from where he withdrew R5,000.

Police have recovered the CCTV footage from locations where Dubey is seen in the city.

"At some places, he is seen with his red-colour bag and at some places, he is without his belongings. We have recovered footage from around six CCTV cameras and have concluded that he was not kidnapped just outside the Chennai airport as he claimed," Shinde added.

Forensic analysis
Investigators are yet to understand how he reached Palghar, where he was found with serious burn injuries. The police claimed that forensic evidence has been collected from the spot where he was burnt and sent for analysis. But sources at the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory (DFSL), Kalina, told mid-day that they have not received any samples to ascertain which inflammable fluid was used to burn him.

"Without testing, it will be tough to say if he was burnt at the same jungle or he was burnt somewhere else and dumped in the jungle to misguide the police. The analysis of samples collected from the jungle will be helpful to come at a conclusion. But we have not received any samples yet," said an officer at DFSL.

Investigators are also checking reservation chart details of the Indian Railways and booking details with airlines to ascertain if he reached Mumbai by train or flight. So far, there has been no evidence to show that he was brought to Palghar in a car. In his statement to police, Dubey had mentioned the name, Irfan. However, no detention or arrest has been made by the Gholwad police so far.

"No suspected named Irfan has been identified. Our investigations are on in full swing," Shinde added. Eight teams of Palghar police have been despatched to collect evidence. One team also reached Dubey's hometown in Palamu, Jharkhand on Tuesday.

Feb 5
Day he was set on fire in a Palghar jungle

Jan 30
Day Suraj Dubey reached Chennai airport