AAP worker found charred to death in his car in Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad: A 45-year-old worker of Aam Aadmi party was charred to death inside his SUV car in Sahibabad area of Ghaziabad, late Thursday night.

Family members of the victim Naveen Kumar Das alleged foul play behind his death, as police registered a murder case against unidentified persons.

According to police, the charred vehicle was found abandoned at a secluded spot in Bhopura area by the roadside leading to Loni from Sahibabad.

In the driver's seat of the vehicle was the charred body of a man, who was later identified as Das, cops added.

"Early Friday morning, we received a PCR call from a passerby informing that a completely burnt car with the body of a man in it, is lying in Bhopura area by the road side. A team of Sahibabad police immediately rushed to the spot and, based on vehicle's registration number, he was identified," said Shlok Kumar, Superintendent of police (City)

"Family members of the deceased were informed and the body was sent for post-mortem," he added.

Cops believe that the fire broke out between 2.30 am and 3.30 am. However, the victim's family claimed that his 'last seen' status on WhatsApp was around 4.30 am.

Speaking to Millennium Post, a relative of the deceased said, "We were informed by the police around 5.30. Immediately, we reached Sahibabad police station, but Naveen's body had already been sent for post-mortem. It was a brand new diesel car and it is impossible that the vehicle accidentally caught fire. He had gone to Chhattarpur area of Delhi to fix up a land deal and we are clueless as how he reached Bhopura."

The family members further said that as the car keys were missing, Das must have failed to roll down the power windows or unlock the doors so as to escape the burning car.

"We suspect that whoever carried out the crime might have called him to the deserted spot and locked him inside the car, before setting the vehicle on fire," the family member added.

Meanwhile, cops said they have registered a case, based on the complaint from victim's family, against unidentified persons.

"Based on the complaint received from the victim's family, we have registered a criminal case against unknown persons at Sahibabad police station. However, we are not ruling out the possibility of an accidental death and are investigating covering all the possible angles" said Dr Rakesh Kumar Mishra, Circle Officer, Sahibabad.