CCTV footage, routine pattern help police nab accused in professor’s murder

By Sumesh Rajan | January 27, 2026

Mumbai, Maharashtra, INDIA: The Government Railway Police (GRP) arrested a 27-year-old man within 12 hours of the brutal murder of a college professor at Malad railway station, using extensive CCTV surveillance, facial recognition technology, and analysis of the accused’s daily routine.

The accused, identified as Omkar Eknath Shinde, allegedly stabbed Alok Kumar Singh (32), a professor at a prominent Vile Parle college, to death following a minor argument while alighting from a moving local train on Saturday January 24 evening.

According to police, the dispute escalated moments after both men stepped onto the platform. In a fit of rage, Shinde allegedly pulled out a sharp weapon and stabbed Singh multiple times in the abdomen. The victim collapsed in a pool of blood as the attacker fled into the crowd.

Singh was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Intensive Investigation

Soon after the incident, the Borivali GRP registered a murder case and launched a massive search operation. Five special teams, each comprising five to six officers, were formed to track down the suspect.

Investigators examined footage from hundreds of CCTV cameras installed at the station, nearby platforms, exits, and surrounding areas. Facial recognition software and movement tracking helped narrow down the suspect’s identity.

During the probe, police discovered that Shinde followed a fixed daily routine. He regularly boarded a train from Malad at 7:18 am to Charni Road and returned at 4:16 pm. Based on this information, CCTV footage from areas including Andheri, Bandra, Mumbai Central, Dindoshi, and Kurar was analysed.

The accused was later traced to Malad’s Triveni Nagar area. Local sources were activated, and surveillance teams were deployed near the auto-rickshaw stand to monitor his movements.

Arrest and Confession

Although officers believed the suspect might stay indoors on Sunday, surveillance continued. At around 7:40 am, Shinde was spotted alighting from an auto-rickshaw near Malad station. He was immediately apprehended and taken to the GRP office in Borivali.

During interrogation, police confronted him with CCTV footage showing a man fleeing from the foot overbridge after the attack. Shinde identified himself in the footage and confessed to the crime.

He reportedly told investigators that he was carrying a sharp instrument and stabbed the professor in anger, claiming he did not intend to cause death.

Police said Shinde works in metal polishing and imitation jewellery businesses in Grant Road and lives with his parents and elder brother in Malad.

He has been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and remanded to police custody till January 29.

Family in Mourning

Meanwhile, the victim’s family remains devastated. Alok Singh’s father, Anil Singh, who works as a bodyguard to the Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, said he was in Delhi when he received the news of his son’s assault.

He immediately informed senior officials, following which the Maharashtra government was contacted.

Alok Singh had been living in Mumbai since childhood and was known among colleagues and students as a kind and dedicated teacher. He was married three years ago and was returning home early on the day of the incident to celebrate his wife’s birthday.

His sister, Pooja Singh, said the family is struggling to cope with the loss, adding that her sister-in-law remains traumatised.

The family has also questioned whether quicker medical intervention could have saved his life.

Ongoing Probe

Police officials said further investigation is underway to reconstruct the sequence of events and examine all possible angles. Security at railway stations has also been reviewed in the wake of the incident.