19-year-old arrested for `poisoning' friend

Mumbai, Jul 5 (PTI) A 19-year-old man has been arrested here for allegedly poisoning his 16-year-old friend to death because he felt cheated by the latter, police said on Saturday.

The accused was identified as Jeeshan Shaikh, resident of Govandi.

Shaheen Shaikh, the victim, died at Jeeshan's residence on June 30. The accused claimed that both of them had drunk an energy drink, after which they fell sick.

Autopsy report showed poisoning as the cause of death.

After the accused, who was admitted to hospital after the incident, was discharged and interrogated on Friday, he admitted to have poisoned his friend by mixing pesticide in milk.

He felt exploited and cheated by the deceased who had lately stopped talking to him and was more attentive to other friends, and therefore hatched the plan to kill him, Jeeshan told police.

He was booked for murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and further investigation is underway, the official said. PTI ZA KRK