A 20-year-old state-level boxer killed his father, mother and elder sister on Wednesday morning in South Delhi’s Neb Sarai, as he was “hurt” and felt “insulted” by them, as he suspected that they were going to name their daughter in their will.
According to police, the accused Arjun Tanwar alias Bunty’s father had recently scolded him in public, and this proved to be the last straw for him. Arjun decided to kill his parents on their 27th anniversary to gain sympathy, and avoid any suspicion, police said. The deceased have been identified as 51-year-old Rajesh Kumar Tanwar, his 46-year-old wife Komal and their 23-year-old daughter Kavita.
According to police sources, Arjun, who has represented in the Delhi Olympics in boxing and earned a silver medal, executed the brutal crime by first killing his sister. He slit her throat while she was sleeping on the ground floor. However, while he was attacking her, Kavita bit Arjun on the finger.
He then went to the first floor and slit his father’s throat after stabbing him on his head first. When his mother Komal tried to escape, he silenced her by cupping his hands on her mouth, and then slit her throat, the police said. According to preliminary investigation, the murders took place between 5 am and 7 am. According to neighbours, Rajesh was a retired army officer and Kavita had earned a black belt in Martial Arts.
Arjun used his father’s ‘army’ dagger to commit the crime. To avoid suspicion, he murdered his family members and then went for a jog to Sunder van, instead of going to his gym session to establish an alibi.
Upon returning, he pretended to be shocked on seeing his family members lying dead, police said. Arjun had alerted the neighbours about finding the bodies lying in the house after he returned from a morning walk. However, an injury on Arjun’s hand led to the police being suspicious of his involvement in the crime.
“A PCR call was received around 6.53 am. The crime and forensics team were also called to the scene to gather evidence. Rajesh was found lying on the first floor, while the women were on the ground floor. The attacker used a sharp-edged weapon. Prima facie, there is no ransacking or stealing of articles from the house. Further, proceedings are in progress. A case of murder has been registered at the Neb Sarai Police Station,” Deputy Commissioner of police (south) Ankit Singh said.
Upon sustained interrogation, the police found Arjun’s versions changing, and he was unable to provide satisfactory answers. The police also analysed CCTV footage of his route.
Speaking about the incident, Satish Kumar, Arjun’s maternal uncle, said, “Rajesh was my brother-in-law. I received a call from my nephew (Arjun) about the incident. Rajesh had retired from the Army, and was currently working as a security officer. His daughter was a college student. I used to talk to my sister every two to three days.” Kumar suggested that a financial dispute might be the possible motive for the attack.
Another neighbor said that the saddest part about the tragedy is that today also happened to be Rajesh and Komal’s 27th wedding anniversary. “He was an introvert and kept to himself. None of us can comprehend the reason behind this murder,” he said. An elderly woman neighbour said that the family’s main door has an interlock system that can be operated from both sides.
Soon after the incident, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government after three members of a family were found dead at their home in the National Capital. Describing the incident as “extremely painful and frightening,”
Kejriwal, who is also the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener, accused the Centre of allowing criminals a free hand and failing to ensure law and order in the capital. “Three murders in the same house in Neb Sarai… This is extremely painful and frightening. Every day, Delhiites wake up to such frightening news. Criminals have been given a free hand, law and order has collapsed. Homes are being destroyed, innocent lives are being lost. And those who are responsible are silently watching all this happen,” he wrote in a post on X.
“Will the Central Government keep quiet like this and watch the law and order situation in Delhi collapse? Will its party still say that crime is not an issue in Delhi?” he added. The Delhi Police reports to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi also launched a sharp attack on the ruling party, accusing it of failing to fulfil its responsibility of providing security to the residents. “There was a triple murder in Neb Sarai this morning. Murders are happening in broad daylight in Delhi, bullets are being fired, drugs are being sold openly. The central government has only one responsibility in Delhi, to provide security to the people of Delhi. They have completely failed in their responsibility,” she said.
