Three minors have been detained in Mumbai for the alleged murder of their 14-year-old friend, whose body was found in Vihar Lake. The victim, Siddharth Londhe, did not die from drowning as initially suspected but from a severe head injury caused by a blunt object, as per the post-mortem report. The accused, aged between 14 and 15, were classmates of the victim and residents of the same area.
Siddharth, a Class 8 student, went missing on February 22 after informing his family that he was going out to play. His body was discovered in Vihar Lake the following day, with his T-shirt and slippers found near the lake earlier. Initially, the incident was treated as an accidental drowning, but post-mortem results revealed a different cause of death. The accused initially claimed Siddharth drowned while swimming, but later confessed to assaulting him near the lake.
The boys allegedly attacked Siddharth due to a perceived arrogance, leading to a fatal head injury. To cover up the crime, they staged it as a drowning by placing his belongings by the shore and dumping his body in the lake. A murder case has been registered by the police, who continue their investigation into the matter.
