The Hindu : New Delhi News : Driver held for murder

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Driver held for murder

Staff Reporter

Meera Mittal was found dead with stab injuries on her neck, stomach and left thigh
Contradictory versions of the driver about his whereabouts raised suspicion

NEW DELHI: The driver of the 50-year-old woman whose body with stab wounds was found in her house at Chittaranjan Park here this past weekend has been arrested for allegedly killing her. The police claim to have recovered her jewellery and some cash from his possession. Meera Mittal was found dead with stab injuries on her neck, stomach and left thigh. The police were informed about it around 8-30 p.m. on Saturday. The incident took place when Ms. Meera’s husband Naresh Mittal was out on an official trip to Bhopal.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the entry was friendly and that there was no ransacking of the house. A half-filled glass of water was kept on the table in the drawing room. Circumstantial evidences suggested involvement of someone known to the victim. Subsequently the former employees and domestic helps of Mr. Mittal were questioned.

Enquiries revealed that on Saturday Ms. Mittal and her sister-in-law had gone out for shopping and returned to her Gangotri Enclave flat around 4-30 p.m. The car driver, Anoop, who was employed only a month ago, told the police that he handed over the keys of the vehicle and a mobile phone to her and left the place. A maid working in the house disclosed that she went there around 5-15 p.m. and despite several knocks at the door there was no response from inside.

When questioned, Anoop gave contradictory versions of his whereabouts on Saturday, which raised suspicion. During interrogation subsequently he allegedly confessed to having murdered Ms. Mittal. He told the police that on two occasions the victim had scolded him for coming late and for driving dangerously. On Saturday when she scolded him again, he lost his cool and allegedly planned to eliminate her. He consumed liquor during the day and after dropping Ms. Mittal at Gangotri Enclave, he again went inside the house on the pretext of drinking water.

He then asked for leave and an advance payment of Rs.1,000, which infuriated Ms. Mittal. She refused, at which Anoop allegedly picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed her. He then allegedly took the jewellery she was wearing and also the pieces kept in her purse before fleeing from the rear door.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi