A 57-year-old advocate was found dead at his office in east Delhi’s Lalita Park late on Thursday night, police said. Subhash Gupta apparently suffocated to death after his killers gagged him. They had tied his hands and legs with tape and removed his clothes. Gupta, a resident of Shanti Vihar near Anand Vihar, was a former president of the Delhi tax bar association. He was also the general secretary of the Shanti Vihar resident welfare association and chairman of the IP Extension Ramlila Committee.

The killers seemed to have been known to Gupta as their entry into his office was friendly. Office articles were found scattered, suggesting a scuffle between Gupta and the killers. The assailants fled with Gupta's cell phone and his wallet containing cash and other valuable items.

Investigators believe that robbery was not the prime motive behind the murder. “The victim was lying on the floor and all his clothes had been properly kept on a chair. We first want to ascertain why he had been unclothed,” said an investigating officer.

DK Gupta, additional DCP (east), said the police had registered a case of murder at the Shakarpur police station. “Our forensic team has collected some evidence from the spot. We are questioning people known to Gupta,” DK Gupta said.

The incident came to light after Gupta's worried family members came to his office to check on him after he did not return home till late in the night. His cell phone was switched off, as well.

“Gupta last talked to his wife Bina around 7pm. He had told her that he would have dinner together at home. Around 8.30 pm, Gupta talked to his younger brother Jagmohan Gupta and told him that he was leaving his office and would reach home by 9 pm,” said the investigating officer.

The police said a group of Gupta's friends had come to the city from Pakistan and put up at an old Delhi hotel. Gupta had sent them biryani in the evening.