A35-year-old woman working as a manager with Honda Company in Greater Noida was strangled to death by her driver when she refused to keep him on the job. A native of Nagpur Maharashtra, Archana Singh was murdered on Saturday night at her rented flat in Udayagiri Apartments, Sector-34, Noida.
Police said Archana was found unconscious on the floor of her flat with blood and froth coming out of her mouth and nose by her uncle. She was rushed to hospital but was declared brought dead.
Noida police on Sunday evening claimed to have solved the murder with the arrest of Archana’s driver Sandeep of Dadari, Greater Noida who confessed to the murder. Police have recovered Archana’s laptop and mobile phone which were missing from her flat from Sandeep’s possession. Sandeep’s interrogation revealed that there was a dispute over Rs 5,200 and he had gone there to demand the same.
Superintendent of Police, Noida Dinesh Yadav said that Archana had hired Sandeep as her driver but she fired him for being irregular. “On Saturday, Sandeep reached her flat around 7.30 pm and asked her to pay the dues and requested her to keep him on the job. When Archana refused to reinstate him, he caught her by the neck and strangled her. He also took her laptop and mobile phone with him to make up for his loss,” Yadav said. “We have arrested the accused with the help of electronic surveillance. He confessed to the murder.” Yadav added.
According to the police, the incident came to light late on Saturday night when Archana’s uncle AK Mall, who had come from Nagpur, reached her flat and found her unconscious on the floor.
He immediately informed the apartment’s guards and then police. Police reached the spot and brought her to nearby hospital where the doctors declared her brought dead.
Deputy Superintendent of police, Noida Anoop Singh said “Prima facie, it seemed to be a case of consumption of poisonous substance but later in the autopsy report, it was found to be a case of strangulation.”
Singh told The Pioneer, “Also, investigations revealed the murder angle as the door was closed from outside according to her uncle’s statement and her laptop and mobile phone were found missing. The family members have suspected three known persons including her driver.”
Police said Archana was a spinster and was living in Noida alone since 2005. She was recently promoted as Honda City’s manager in April.
Police said, around 6.30 pm, Archana had called her uncle AK Mall for a meeting who had come from Nagapur to meet their son’s family in Sector 61. Meanwhile, her mother continuously made calls to her after 7.30 pm, she did not pick her phone. Then she informed AK Mall who reached the flat and found her dead.