Man held for killing transgender

A 38-year-old transgender was found brutally killed in her house with her body bearing multiple stab wounds in Kalyan city in Maharashtra, police said Tuesday, adding that the accused has been arrested. The body of the victim, identified as Dhiraj Salve alias Reva Desai, was found to be in a highly decomposed condition, said a senior police official.

A case has been registered under section 302 (Punishment for murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a day after the body was found. The official said the victim's body bore at least 40 stab wounds.

The accused, identified as Sushil Bhalerao (25), was arrested from Mumbra in Thane district this morning. Bhalerao was in a relationship with the deceased, the official said, adding that he might have killed the transgender as he used to suspect her fidelity.

The incident came to light Monday night when the owner of the house was informed about a foul smell emanating from the closed room locked in Katemanivli locality, according to the official. When the owner opened the door of the room, he found Desai lying in a pool of blood.

Further investigation is underway.