A doctor posted in civil hospital of Itarsi in Hoshangabad district allegedly killed his driver, cut his body into more than 50 pieces and put them in a drum filled with acid to dissolve them.
When police team reached his house, the doctor was found cutting the lower part of the body into pieces.
Preliminary investigation conducted so far revealed that the doctor had an illicit affair with driver’s wife and the driver was posing a hurdle in his (doctor’s) path.
The doctor was caught red-handed while throwing the body pieces into a drum full of acid after his neighbour informed the police suspecting the doctor’s suspicious movements on Tuesday afternoon.
The neighbours had complained of smell of acid coming out of the house on Sunday, but then police did not take any action. Later, the residents again complained on Tuesday morning, following which the house was raided.
Superintendent of Police (SP) of Hoshangabad Arvind Saxena told The pioneer that the accused Dr Sunil Mantri (58), lives in posh locality of Anand Nagar and he has confessed to have killed his servant, Birendra alias Biru Pachauri (30).
Saxena informed that Mantri is a widower posted at the civil hospital Itarsi and used to live alone in his two storied house in Anand Nagar. His wife had died in April, 2017, and his 26-year old son and 23-year-old daughter work in Mumbai.
Police said Mantri’s late wife and Biru’s wife used to run a boutique together at his Anand Nagar house since 2010.
After his wife’s death, Biru’s wife continued running the boutique alone and he allegedly developed illicit relations with her. Biru got suspicious about their alleged affair and threatened Mantri that he would expose him, Saxena added.
Saxena said that police are investigating whether Biru was extorting money from Mantri. Biru’s wife will be questioned in this regard, he said, quoting Mantri’s alleged confession, Mantri decided to kill Biru so that he could continue his relationship with his wife.
Police said Mantri somehow convinced Biru to become his driver, saying that if he stayed with him all day he would know that he and his wife were not having an affair.
Informing about the modus operandi of doctor, Saxena said that Monday was Biru’s first day at work. They went to Itarsi civil hospital, some 20 km from Hoshangabad, and returned in the evening.
At home, Biru reportedly complained of toothache and Mantri gave him a strong pain killer injection, making him feel drowsy.
Taking advantage of his situation, Mantri first cut Biru’s throat with a knife and then chopped his body into two dozen pieces with the help of a saw, which he had brought a few days ago. As part of his plan, Mantri had already purchased acid bottles to dissolve the body parts and erase all evidence.