The Hindu : Body-building champion held for murder

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 28, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Body-building champion held for murder

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 27. A 23-year-old national- level body-building champion has been arrested by the South-West Delhi police for allegedly killing a 35-year-old man at Najafgarh in South-West Delhi in January. The accused had developed illicit relations with the deceased's wife, who had allegedly hatched the conspiracy. The woman, along with another accomplice, has also been arrested.

The police had found the body of Prem Singh, a dairy owner of Najafgarh, near Rama Public School on January 6. He was shot in the back. Investigations revealed that his wife, Darshana, had developed an illicit relationship with Manish Kumar Phalswal, an upcoming body builder who had won gold, silver and bronze medals at State and national level. Following a tip-off, Manish and his friend and accomplice, Satpal Singh, were arrested on Friday. The scooter used in committing the crime was also recovered from them along with the weapon of offence, a country-made revolver. At the instance of Manish, Darshana was also arrested.

Interrogation revealed that Manish, son of an assistant sub-inspector from Haryana, had completed his graduation from Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University, in 2001. Around the same time, he came in contact with Pradeep Kumar Jat, a national body- building champion, who runs a gymnasium at Najafgarh. He encouraged Manish to take up body- building. Manish left his father's house in Haryana and rented an accommodation in the house of Prem Singh. Manish took up body- building with zeal and after winning the Delhi University championship went on to win State and national level events in his category.

During the same time, Darshana, who used to stay at home, developed a friendship with Manish. The two soon got close as Prem used to remain busy in maintaining his dairy. Over a period of time, Manish and Darshana established physical relationship and did not stop even when Prem came to know about and objected to it.

In course of time, the word about the relationship spread in the area and finally Prem asked Manish to vacate his house in November 2002, which Manish did. However, Darshana kept meeting Manish regularly, either in her house or outside. Whenever Prem raised objection, Darshana used to get violent. This continued for about a year.

Finally, Darshana planned to eliminate Prem so that she could live with Manish. Manish roped in his school time friend, Satpal. On the fateful night, as per plan, Darshana informed Manish that her husband had left for his dairy in the early hours of January 6. Manish and Satpal were waiting on a scooter near the house. The duo trailed Prem for a while and when he reached a deserted stretch near Rama Public School, Manish shot him in the back. Prem died on the spot.

Later, in order to ensure that her 11-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son did not become a hindrance for her and Manish, Darshana got them admitted in different residential schools in Haryana. She had also told Manish not to contact her until the police pressure subsided.

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