Delhi police solve murder of small-time builder, arrest wife and lover
Police reveal the murder of 55-year-old Munna Lal was orchestrated by his wife and her 20-year-old lover over infidelity and money disputes.
Quick Look
Police arrested 45-year-old Manju and her 20-year-old lover Chaman for the murder of her husband, Munna Lal, in south Delhi, after staging the crime scene to look like a botched robbery.
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Why It Matters
Police investigated the murder of 55-year-old Munna Lal initially reported as a robbery gone wrong in south Delhi.
According to police, 55-year-old Munna Lal was declared dead at AIIMS Trauma Centre.
NEW DELHI: The case of a woman accused of killing her husband with the help of her lover took a dramatic turn after police revealed that the murder was born out of infidelity, a bitter marriage and the husband's tight-fisted habits.
A murder made to look like robbery
At 5am on August 10, the alleyways of Ratiya Marg in south Delhi awoke to what appeared to be a deadly robbery. Inside a ransacked house, 55-year-old Munna Lal, a small-time builder, lay in a pool of blood. Drawers had been opened and clothes were strewn across the floor. Emergency responders rushed Lal to AIIMS, but he was declared brought dead. His 45-year-old wife, Manju, told police she had found his body in the morning and suspected that intruders had entered the house through the terrace. But the crime scene soon raised questions.
Clues that did not fit
Forensic examination showed that Lal had been drugged, strangled and repeatedly struck on the head and face with a blunt object. Police also found that he had been electrocuted on his private parts. The apparent chaos inside the house appeared deliberate. Portions of the floor bore faint streak marks, suggesting someone had hurriedly tried to scrub away blood trails and wipe down evidence. CCTV footage from neighbouring lanes provided another clue. Police tracked a masked figure entering the premises at around 1.45am and leaving at about 3.15am. The footage also captured suspicious, coordinated movements between a woman and an associate outside the house during the same period.
The perfect murder that wasn't.
An affair and a bitter marriage
When a special team questioned Manju, the investigation took a dramatic turn. According to police, Manju had colluded with her 20-year-old lover, Chaman, to kill Lal. Investigators alleged that Manju had promised Chaman Rs 5 lakh and long-term financial assistance to eliminate her husband. She also allegedly planned to live with him after the murder. Police said the motive was linked to an extramarital relationship, a troubled marriage and Lal's refusal to provide money freely.
The night Lal was killed
According to police, the plan was executed on the night of August 9. Manju allegedly spiked her husband's dinner with sleeping pills provided by Chaman. Once Lal became unconscious, the two allegedly rigged live electric wires to inflict shocks on his private parts. They then allegedly bludgeoned him repeatedly with a heavy wooden stick before strangling him. Police said Manju paid Chaman Rs 20,000 in cash after the killing. The pair then allegedly ransacked the house to create the impression that burglars had entered and killed Lal during a robbery.
Three arrested
A special team was formed under Joint CP Vijay Kumar and DCP Anant Mittal to investigate the murder. Police arrested Manju and Chaman, along with a third associate, Kishan, who allegedly helped harbour the accused. Police said they recovered Rs 15,000 in cash. “South district police have solved the case and arrested Manju and Chaman along with a third associate named Kishan for harbouring the accused. We have seized Rs 15,000 cash,” DCP Mittal said.
Open Questions
- What sentence will the accused face?
