Actor's father murder: Stock broker Gautam Vora arrested

Mumbai: Stock broker and socialite Gautam Vora has been arrested by the Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police for helping Vijay Palande, the prime accused in the murder of actor Anuj Tikku's father, escape from police custody.

Mr Palande had been arrested earlier this month in connection with the murder of Delhi-based businessman Arunkumar Tikku at his actor-son's flat in Oshiwara, a suburb of Mumbai. Mr Tikku, 61, was discovered lying in a pool of blood by a resident and a guard of the Samarth Aangan building on the night of April 7. He had multiple stab wounds on his abdomen.

But Mr Palande managed to give the cops a slip while he was being taken in a police van in Andheri on April 10. The dramatic escape, though, was short-lived as he was soon re-captured by Crime Branch officials who handed him over to the Oshiwara police.

Mr Vora has, in the past, run into trouble when his name cropped up in the suicide of Mumbai-based model Viveka Babajee in 2010.