Five held for murder of four women, guard

NEW DELHI: One of the most high-profile murder mysteries of 2017 was solved on Wednesday, after the Crime Branch of Delhi Police arrested five persons involved in the murder of four women and a security guard at their residence in Mansarovar Park area of Shahdara district.

According to police, the case was solved by the newly-formed Crime Branch team STARS-II, who arrested Vikas (26) Anuj (25), Sunny (22), Vikas and Neeraj (37). Two other accused are at large

Police said that Rakesh, the deceased security guard, was the main conspirator and was killed by his son and son-in-law.

The gruesome murder-cum-dacoity of four women of the Jindal family and their guard took place on the intervening night of October 6 and 7. After murdering the women by slitting their throats and stabbing with sharp weapons, the accused decamped with cash and jewellery from the house. On their way out, they also murdered Rakesh, who had been working for the family for 15 years.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Alok Kumar on Wednesday said that a team of officers of Eastern Range, Crime Branch, under the supervision of DCP (Crime Branch) G Ramgopal Naik and ACP/STARS-II Crime Rajesh Kumar was formed to probe the case.

Having ruled out property dispute as the motive, several suspects and inmates were interrogated at length.

"After going through the injuries inflicted upon the deceased and the post-mortem report, it was revealed that the accused were aware of the vital organs which can cause death instantaneously," said Kumar.

The senior cop added that while working on this angle, it came to light that Rakesh's son-in-law Vikas was working as a sweeper in GTB Hospital.

Cops began closely and regularly monitoring Vikas and all persons in touch with him, and they were repeatedly questioned.

During sustained interrogation, Vikas eventually broke down and confessed to the crime.

"Interrogations of the arrested persons revealed that the deceased security guard Rakesh knew about the money that the Jindal family had and hatched a conspiracy to kill members of the family with his relatives and son when they visited him," said the Joint CP.

On the day of the incident, after all the accused reached the spot, they first killed Nupur with help from the guard, and then the rest of the women. Later, Vikas also killed by father-in-law, to thrown investigators off track.

Lauding the efforts of the Crime Branch, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik tweeted on Wednesday: "Proud of outstanding investigation by Crime Branch team which cracked the blind & clueless quintuple murder case of Shahdara District. Kudos to Delhi Police!"