Man stabs friend to death for refusing to share beer

Jogeshwari resident had attacked two brothers during a drinking session

The Meghwadi police have arrested a 36-year-old man for allegedly stabbing his 29-year-old friend to death after the victim allegedly refused to share one of the beer bottles which they had ordered in Jogeshwari.

The accused has been identified as Sonu alias Shanmugan Rajendra.

According to the police, the incident took place on Tuesday night when the victim, Ajay Dravid, and his brother Vijay had ordered beer and were drinking in a fish market near their house in Jogeshwari East. The accused, a common friend of the brothers who lives in the same locality, asked them to share a bottle with him. The victim, however, refused to share, saying he had limited stock. This led to an argument between Ajay and Sonu that soon turned violent. Sonu was repeatedly asking for beer and was claiming that he had paid for it. However, Ajay was reluctant to share it. Vijay then rushed to intervene in the fight. This enraged Sonu and he grabbed an ice pick and started stabbing the brothers, injuring both of them. The other friends of the victim intervened, but Sonu managed to fled the spot. The injured brothers were rushed to the hospital, but Ajay succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Vijay’s condition is stated to be stable.

The police, meanwhile, started the probe and traced Sonu within a few hours from the vicinity while he was attempting to flee. Sonu has been booked under section 302 (murder) and 307 (attempted murder) of Indian Penal Code. He was produced in the local court and has been remanded to police custody till May 30.

Sudhir Nigudkar, senior police inspector of Meghwadi police station, said, “We have seized the ice pick used in the murder and have recorded the statements of all the people who were present at the spot. The victim and accused fought over a beer bottle,” he said.