Man gets life term for murdering Mumbai model

HYDERABAD: The XI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on Wednesday awarded life imprisonment to a small-time artiste for killing a Mumbai-based model in a lodge in Secunderabad in 2009.

On July 25, 2009 the hotel staff informed the police about the murder of a woman in room number 209. During the course of investigation, it was revealed that the victim, Arzoo Ali, had checked into the hotel on July 19 with the help of one Rakesh of Hyderabad.

Rakesh introduced her to Mohammad Siddique, who deals with high-end call girls, to mediate in procuring high-class customers. The accused, Rajeshwaraiah is a friend/assistant of Siddique.

During Arzoo's stay in the hotel, Rajeshwaraiah, on the instructions of Siddique escorted her twice to her customers in Ameerpet and Himayatnagar.

In the course of time, Rajeshwaraiah got attracted to Arzoo and tried convincing her but she refused him and also admonished him for bringing up such a proposal. However, he was determined to convince her as he thought she had nothing to lose by accepting his proposal and waited for his opportunity to fulfil his lust.

On July 25, 2006 Rajeshwaraiah learnt that a customer had left Arzoo's room in the early hours. He arrived at her room and persuaded her to spend some time with him. As she did not respond positively, he assaulted her sexually. As Arzoo tried to raise an alarm, he strangulated her with her chunni.

After confirming that she was dead, Rajeshwaraiah decamped with `7,000 from Arzoo's wardrobe and her mobile phone. He was apprehended by the North Zone Task Force team on July 29 at Shaikpet and was handed over to the Ramgopalpet police for further action.

After the investigation, a chargesheet was filed in the court of the XI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate citing 30 witnesses. During the trial, as many as 15 prosecution witnesses were examined, 14 exhibits were marked and after taking into consideration facts, statement of the accused and the circumstances, the court awarded a life sentence to Rajeshwaraiah.

He was also asked to pay `1,000 as fine in default to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of six months. Arzoo was a model and a resident of Mumbai. She was the eldest of four children in her family.

Her father, Arman Ali, was murdered by his political rivals 17 years ago. Arzoo was married off in 1994 and had two sons. Due to family disputes, she was staying away from her husband in Mumbai with her younger brother Afrahim Ali.