Hema murder: Chintan Upadhyay remanded in judicial custody till January 11

Mumbai: A local court on Monday remanded Chintan Upadhyay, who was arrested in connection with the murder of his estranged wife Hema and her lawyer Harish Bhambhani, in judicial custody till January 11.

Chintan, whose police remand ended today, was produced before judge Prasad Kulkarni of Borivali metropolitan magistrate's court.

The court will hear police's application for permission to subject Chintant to narco analysis tests later this week. Chintan, accused of conspiring to kill Hema, a well-known installation artist, and her lawyer, was arrested on December 22, ten days after the bodies of the two victims were found in a drain, stuffed in cartons.

A senior police officer privy to the probe said on condition of anonymity that investigators hadn't found any substantial evidence against Chintan so far and he had answered most questions satisfactorily.

Vidyadhar Rajbhar, another prime accused, is still on the run. Police believe that he is hiding somewhere in south India, the officer said.

The judicial custody of other four accused – Pradip Rajbhar, Vijay Rajbhar, Shivkumar Rajbhar and Azaad Rajbhar -- will end on January 11.