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MUMBAI: Police from the city and Satara swung into action on being alerted about a possible double murder and suicide attempt by a Ghatkopar resident on Wednesday. They managed to track the 37-year-old private taxi driver on the state highway, but it was too late to save his children whose bodies were found in the boot of the car.

Police have arrested Chandrakant Mohite for murder and he will be produced before the Satara first class magistrate court on Thursday. The bodies of his children, Gauravi Mohite

(11) and Pratik Mohite (7), have been sent to the government hospital for post- mortem. The post-mortem report is awaited.

According to the police, Chandrakant is a resident of Jagruti Nagar, Ghatkopar west.

Police said Chandrakant was suffering from TB and he was undergoing treatment. His ailment led to fights between his wife and him. On Wednesday, too, the couple had an ugly spat following which his wife walked out of the house and went to her parents’ house.

Sources said that in a fit of rage, Chandrakant took the children along with him in the car. “After leaving the city limits, he called up his older brother and told him about the fight with his wife and said he was going to kill his children and end his life too. His brother immediately informed the Ghatkopar police,” said a source.

Ghatkopar police used the mobile tracker to trace his location to Raigad-Satara district and alerted the state control room. Investigating officer S Hajale of Satara police station said Chandrakant’s brother had already passed on his mobile number as well his car registration number and this helped to trace him on the Satara junction of the state highway.

Hajale said when they intercepted him, he said he had smothered the kids with a piece of cloth and dumped their bodies in the boot of the car. “When we opened the boot, we found their bodies. He has admitted to killing the kids and we have arrested him,’’ said Hajale.

Chandrakant further told cops he was about to commit suicide when they intercepted him. Sources said Chandrakant had twice attempted suicide in the past too.

A Satara police team is likely to visit Ghatkopar to record the statements of Chandrakant’s wife as well other family members.

“The Mohite family had approached Ghatkopar police and sought help to trace Chandrakant. We have given all necessary assistance to the Satara police,’’ said Akhilesh Singh, DCP (Zone 7).

