The Hindu : New Delhi News : Murder case solved; nephew arrested

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Sunday, May 18, 2008
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New Delhi

Murder case solved; nephew arrested

Staff Reporter

The senior citizen was murdered in his flat in Janakpuri; another suspect absconding

NEW DELHI: The West Delhi police on Saturday claimed to have worked out the murder of 70-year-old Byas Dev Sharma, who was found dead on Thursday, with the arrest of his wife’s nephew. The police said the accused, 27-year-old Bikal Bhanot, with the help of an associate, killed the senior citizen with the intention to rob the house. His associate is still at large.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West District) Sharad Agarwal said following the arrest of the accused, who resided at Subhash Nagar, an Alto car used in the crime and Rs. 20,659 in cash along with US $ 302 and 65 British pounds that had been robbed from the house have also been recovered.

Mr Agarwal said the body of the deceased was discovered by his wife, Raksha Sharma, in their flat number 20 in Block C-4 H of Janak Puri. The police learnt that on that day she had been dropped by her husband at Onkareshwar Mahadev Mandir at Mansarovar Garden in the morning. On her return, she had found his body with the throat slit. The house had been ransacked and about Rs 1 lakh in cash along with about $1,000 and 500 British pounds and gold ornaments were found missing from an almirah.

As there was a friendly entry into the house, the police investigated the role of several friends and relatives of the family. It was on discreet enquiry from Ms Sharma that they learnt that her nephew Bikal was a frequent visitor to the house. As the two sons of the deceased are settled in USA, Bikal was very close to the family. During a recent visit to the house, he had also noticed the cash, foreign currency and ornaments lying in the locker of the steel almirah.

The police learnt that Bikal had after passing Class 12 done a diploma in press printing and was employed at an offset printing press in the Kirti Nagar Industrial Area. He led a lavish life and was in heavy debt having borrowed over Rs 70,000 from various persons.

During questioning on his whereabouts, Bikal allegedly confessed to the crime and told the police that one of his close relatives was also involved in the execution of the robbery plan. On the day of the crime, he said, they had parked the Alto car outside the house of the Sharmas and watched their movement. When Mr Sharma returned alone in the afternoon, the accused gained entry into the house.

They then engaged the elderly man in a conversation and on finding an opportunity, Bikal overpowered him from behind and gagged him, while the other accused slit his throat twice and stabbed him in the chest.

After ensuring that the victim was dead, the accused took out the cash and valuables and some documents from the almirah and fled. They then distributed the booty on their way in the car. Later, Bikal’s associate absconded to Punjab.

The police have now launched a hunt for the second accused and are also making efforts to recover the weapon of offence.

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