The Delhi Police has arrested a 34-year-old man for allegedly murdering a 16-year-old girl in her residence at West district’s Vishnu Garden area on Monday and robbing jewelry and Rs 18,000 in cash. The accused, one Parvinder Singh, had reportedly watched television series Crime Patrol and picked up tricks to commit the crime, police said Thursday.
According to police on Monday, at around 9:30 pm a police control room (PCR) call was received at Khyala police station regarding the murder of a minor girl. On reaching the spot, police found the body of 16-year-old Pooja lying in a pool of blood with stab injury on her throat.
“The deceased’s father one Munna Lal stated that on Monday his younger daughter Pooja and 12-year-old son Deepak were present in the house while he and his wife were at their vegetable shop at Subzi Mandi in Khyala. At about 8.30pm, Deepak came to him and informed that Pooja had been killed by some unknown person,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Monika Bhardwaj.
Prima facie it was a friendly entry, police said, and accordingly all the relatives and friends of the family were interrogated.
“From CCTV analysis and local enquiry, a neighbour one Parvinder Singh was zeroed in this case as he was seen loitering in their lane several times,” said the DCP.
“He was subjected to several rounds of sustained interrogation. Initially, he tried to mislead the investigation; however, later he broke down and confessed his guilt,” the DCP said, adding that the accused disclosed he was in good terms with the family and had easy access to their household.
During sustained interrogation, the accused told police personnel that he had seen the deceased’s mother Sukho Devi keeping a bag of jewelry inside the almirah and decided to steal the jewelry as he was in need of money.
“On new year’s eve, at around 7 pm, he entered the residence aware that 16-year-old Pooja was present. As deceased Pooja was present in another room he started stealing jewellery from the almirah. However, Pooja saw him stealing and objected to the same. Frightened he strangled her with a nylon rope. Further, in order to ensure her death, he slit her throat with the help of a house knife,” DCP stated.