Written by Manish Kumar PathakMumbai | December 11, 2025 07:53 PM IST 3 min readTo cover-up the murder, Amir called his younger brother Salim and also contacted Vasai-based doctor R R Garg, who allegedly agreed to provide a death certificate. (File photo)A domestic worker’s alertness and a telling observation about blood stains in a Vasai house helped the crime branch officials of the Mira-Bhayander Vasai Virar to crack the murder of a 61-year-old high court lawyer, who was killed by her stepson. The police also found during probe how the stepson’s father and uncle covered up the murder by procuring a death certificate from a local doctor, secretly burying the body and showing it as a natural death.According to police, the victim, Arshiya Khusro, resided in Periyar Apartment opposite D’Mart in Vasai (West) along with her husband and stepson Imran Khusro (32). On the morning of July 26, Khusro refused to give Imran Rs 1.8 lakh to fund his online gaming addiction. During an argument, Imran, in a fit of rage, allegedly smashed her head against a bathroom wall and she started bleeding. He then ransacked her cupboard and fled with two tolas of gold jewellery. Imran then informed his father Amir Khusro and both then wiped the blood stains from the house.To cover-up the murder, Amir called his younger brother Salim and also contacted Vasai-based doctor R R Garg, who allegedly agreed to provide a death certificate which said Khusro died a natural death. The family then secretly transported the body to a burial ground in Vasai west and performed the last rites, without the knowledge of the neighbours.The incident came to light when a domestic help arrived for work, noticed blood stains in the house, and found her employer missing. She alerted police inspector Samir Ahirrao, incharge of the Mira-Bhayander Vasai Virar crime branch unit. A special team was formed and within 12 hours, Imran and Amir were taken into custody. While they initially denied their involvement during interrogation, they confessed to the crime when both of them were questioned separately, said police officer Samir Ahirrao.Must Read | Solving Crime: No mobile data, no CCTV, no leads—how a brown tape led Bengaluru cops to solve a Malayali PG owner’s murderAfter both the father-son duo confessed to the crime, police then picked up Imran’s uncle Salim and Dr Garg. A murder case was registered at the Vasai police station and all four were arrested in the case under the charge of murder, along with other relevant sections. Assistant Commissioner of Police Nemnath Ghogre became the investigating officer and following court order, Arshiya’s body was exhumed and sent to the JJ hospital for post mortem. Police also seized Dr Garg’s clinic and started examining whether he had been involved in similar cases.“Imran had long been addicted to a multiplayer online game and had repeatedly sought money from family members for in-game purchases. Arshiya had helped him in the past but she refused to give him money. It is a case of digital addiction, greed, and cold planning,” said Ahirrao who was then incharge of the Unit 2 MBVV crime branch. The reconstruction of the crime scene was conducted and police collected evidence from the burial site as part of evidence, said police.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:crimeMumbai