Delhi Police arrested a 37-year-old woman for allegedly strangulating her husband to death after hatching a conspiracy with her lover, an occultist from Bihar, in south Delhi’s Defence Colony. Police said the occultist is currently absconding and a piece of cloth used in commission of the crime has been recovered.
On April 7, police received information from AIIMS regarding the death of a 54-year-old man. During enquiry in the matter, it was learnt that the deceased was brought to AIIMS by his son and the death had occurred while he was reportedly asleep with his wife in a separate room.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, south district, Ishwar Singh, said the deceased was working as a gardener in AIIMS and had one son and one daughter from his first wife and one son and one daughter from his second wife.
All the relatives of the deceased were interrogated but no one suspected any foul play in the death. His wife, who was present in the room, also appeared to be in a shock and unable to explain what had happened, said the official.
However, the matter took a U-turn when the Post-Mortem Examination report of the deceased was received. It was mentioned in the report that the cause of death was asphyxia due to strangulation. A case of murder was then lodged.
During investigation, it was found that accused’s married life was not going smoothly. A technical clue led the police to the discovery of a cell phone number being used by his wife which was not revealed earlier. The study of its CDR revealed a new character, an occultist from Bihar.
When she was confronted, the woman broke down and disclosed her ongoing relationship with the occultist and the plot behind the murder.
“The accused woman disclosed that while her married life was passing through a turbulent phase, she came in the contact with the occultist while attending a marriage in the family at her native place in Bihar. She discussed her matrimonial issues with the occultist who initially promised help in bringing her married life to bliss through the use of charms but later, they developed intimacy. To remain in touch with him she purchased a new SIM card which was not in the knowledge of anyone else. To ensure double secrecy, he also purchased a one-to-one cell phone number and for a while, they continued this illicit relationship,” the DCP said.
Investigations revealed that both numbers were in communication till the date of murder, after which both were found switched off.
Detailed interrogation, the woman revealed that the occultist used to visit Delhi frequently to meet her. During his last visit in March this year, they hatched a plot to get rid of her husband.
“As a part of the plan, he gave strips of sleeping pills to the accused and asked her to wait for his instructions. On April 6 night, she mixed the sleeping pills in the food of her husband and once he went off to sleep she strangulated him with a cloth. As pre the plan, after committing the crime, she broke the SIM card and phone used in the crime and threw them in a nearby dustbin,” the DCP added. During investigation, the cloth which was used in crime was recovered.