New Delhi: A demand to vacate an ancestral property in West Bengal’s Bardhaman allegedly led a couple to hatch a plan to murder Delhi University professor Debosmita Paul at her residence in east Delhi’s Vasundhara Enclave in June, police have stated in their chargesheet.
Police analysed footage from more than 500 CCTV cameras during the investigation. Footage from Paul’s society showed a masked couple entering around 3.20pm with a child and later leaving, with the two adults having changed clothes and the child still wearing the same clothes. A police team reached Bardhaman, where investigators traced a scooter allegedly used by the accused, conducted door-to-door searches at more than 100 houses, and finally arrested the couple.
Their son heard the commotion and entered the room, where he witnessed the incident, police said. Police alleged that the husband, who works at a hardware shop, discussed the issue with his wife and they decided to kill Paul so they could continue living on the property. They allegedly believed other members of Paul’s family had little interest in the property and that they could eventually take control of it. The accused allegedly attacked Paul on the head with a mortar before repeatedly striking her face and slitting both her wrists. Investigators questioned the cab driver who had dropped the family near Dallupura and traced their movements to the hotel where they had stayed. Hotel records showed the man was from Bihar and the woman from Bardhaman, prompting police to examine their links to the property. The couple was later traced to Anand Vihar. Instead of taking a train from there, they travelled to New Delhi railway station before boarding a train for Bardhaman.
The child was produced as a ‘child in need of care and protection’ before the Child Welfare Committee and his custody given to his relatives.