7 workers who dug pit detained

Digging deeper into the Laila Khan murder case, a team from Crime Branch visited her Igatpuri bungalow and recovered two iron rods and many wooden sticks that were allegedly used in the murder of the starlet and her five relatives. On the other hand, cops have also detained seven locals from the area as they were acquainted with the absconding accused Shakir Hussain. Three of them are females. Shakir was working as a watchman at the bungalow and allegedly helped prime accused Parvez Tak carry out the killings in February 2011.

Cover blown: Cops at Laila Khan's farmhouse, where the skeletons were found in a trench (marked by the yellow tent) on July 11. File pic

The police in Igatpuri says some drivers and cleaners of JCB machines, who were called to dig up a pit in January 2011 at the bungalow, were told that it was for the establishment of a water tank. On the other hand, the same people were called the next month to cover up the pit and they apparently did not notice the bodies in it. If this version is proven true then it establishes that Parvez had pre-planned the killings at least a month ago.

Police have also detained the owner of a travel agency that had arranged for a driver, Jolly Gilder, who allegedly drove the Scorpio belonging to Parvez till Jammu - where the latter had fled to after the murders.

Meanwhile, Laila Khan's father Nasir Shah Patel yesterday filed a petition in Bombay High Court, demanding a CBI probe into his daughter's death.
The petition claims that Mumbai police dragged its feet in the investigation. The case is currently with the Crime Branch. The petition also alleges that Crime Branch delayed investigations in waiting for Jammu and Kashmir police to arrest Parvez, who has now been charged for murdering Laila, her mother Saleena, older sister Hashmina, twin siblings Imran and Zara, and cousin Reshma.

Nasir said, "Apart from Parvez, cops have not arrested anyone else in the case so far, and I am dissatisfied with the probe. I would like a CBI inquiry."

Patel stated that he had approached Oshiwara police in 2011 to file a missing person's complaint after his daughter's disappearance, but police did nothing till Parvez's arrest. He has also asked for action against Igatpuri and Oshiwara police for their lackadaisical investigations.

Advocate Ejaz Naqvi, who is representing Nasir, declined to discuss details of the petition. The plea will come up for hearing on July 19.u00a0