Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The 72-year-old wife of a retired Army captain was allegedly killed by her domestic help following a dispute over missing jewellery in Haryana’s Panchkula, police said on Tuesday. The victim, Neera Mehta, was found dead on the rooftop of a house in Sector-21 on Monday.
Police said the accused — maid Sunita Devi, her husband Shankar and their son Raja — were arrested within 24 hours of the complaint being lodged.
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CCTV footage showing the mother-son duo allegedly carrying the body and hiding it on a neighbour’s rooftop has also surfaced.
According to police, retired Army captain Manmohan Lal Mehta approached the Sector-21 police post after his wife failed to return home.
He told police that some jewellery was missing from their residence and that his wife had gone to question their domestic help about the suspected theft.
Panchkula Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Aditi Singh said, “He gave the information that there was a robbery in his house. His wife told him that some of his ornaments were missing. And to inquire about that, he is going to his house help’s house”.
Acting on the complaint, police teams reached the domestic help’s residence, which was found locked from outside.
Officers then accessed the adjoining rooftop through a neighbouring house and discovered the elderly woman’s body wrapped and concealed under a covering.
Describing the search operation, the DCP said, “Then on the roof of the house on the side, they saw that under a tree, his wife, Shreemati Neera Mehta, whose age is about 72 years, was found dead”.
She added that the local police station, forensic team and senior officers were informed immediately, and a scientific investigation was launched.
A murder case was registered at Sector-20 police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including murder, destruction of evidence, theft and common intention.
Police later detained Sunita Devi, Shankar and Raja for questioning and subsequently arrested them.
ARGUMENT OVER SUSPECTED THEFT
Investigators said preliminary findings suggest that an argument over the suspected theft escalated into a physical altercation during which Neera Mehta died.
Police said the exact cause of death would be established after the post-mortem examination.
The CCTV footage that has emerged reportedly shows Sunita Devi and Raja carrying the victim’s body out of the house, taking it to a neighbouring rooftop and covering it in an apparent attempt to avoid suspicion. Police believe the accused tried to destroy evidence after the incident.
During questioning, the accused allegedly denied stealing any jewellery. Sunita Devi has claimed that the woman slipped and fell, while police said all aspects of the case remain under investigation and further legal action will depend on the post-mortem report, forensic findings and other scientific evidence.
The three accused are expected to be produced before a Panchkula court for police remand.
Police said the investigation is being finalised, and a detailed charge sheet will be filed.
Officials also appealed to senior citizens living alone to get domestic workers verified through the police, noting that the Mehta family had not informed authorities that they were living by themselves.
– Ends
Umang Sheoran input/agencies
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
