Woman, her friend held for husband’s murder in Sangam Vihar

A woman, 45, and her 20-year-old friend were arrested for allegedly murdering her husband to escape abuse. The motive involved years of domestic violence.

A 45-year-old woman and her 20-year-old male friend have been arrested for allegedly killing the woman’s husband at their Sangam Vihar home early Monday, with police saying she planned the murder after suffering years of physical abuse and humiliation at the hands of the victim.

Police received a call around 5am on Monday that a man had been injured during a burglary at a house on Ratiya Marg. (Shutterstock)

Deputy commissioner of police (south) Anant Mittal said the victim, Munna Lal, a builder, was allegedly killed by his wife Manju alias Nazia and her friend Chaman, a mechanic. Manju and Lal had been married for 22 years and lived in Sangam Vihar with their three children -- daughters aged 19 and 21 and a minor son.

Police received a call around 5am on Monday that a man had been injured during a burglary at a house on Ratiya Marg. When they reached the spot, they found Lal critically injured. He was taken to AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Manju initially told police that she and her three children were sleeping in another room while Lal was in the front room. She claimed she woke up to find the house ransacked and her husband injured.

Police initially suspected a burglary, but the scene and CCTV footage raised questions. Blood traces appeared to have been cleaned and household articles had been disturbed in a manner that suggested an attempt to make the killing look like a break-in.

CCTV footage showed suspicious movement of a woman and another person near the house. It also showed a masked man entering the house around 1.45am and leaving around 3.15am, Mittal said. The woman was identified as Manju.

During questioning, Manju allegedly disclosed the conspiracy and Chaman’s involvement. “She said that the motive was linked to domestic disputes, financial difficulties and physical assault and humiliation. She said that the couple had been married for 22 years and he had been beating and abusing her for several years,” an investigator said.

According to police, Manju met Chaman a few months ago at the mechanic shop where he worked and fell in love with him. She allegedly planned the murder and offered him ₹5 lakh to help kill Lal.

“She said that she first administered sleeping pills. Once he was incapacitated, she, along with Chaman, strangulated him, electrocuted him and assaulted him with a stick,” Mittal said.

Police said it is yet to be established how the victim was electrocuted. Manju allegedly paid Chaman ₹20,000 at the time of the killing.

Police have also bound down Chaman’s associate Kishan, 28, of Sangam Vihar, for allegedly harbouring him. “Kishan dropped Chaman to another neighbourhood despite blood on his shirt. He has been bound down but not arrested in the case,” the officer said.

A case under sections 103(1) (murder), 238(a) (destruction of evidence) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered at Sangam Vihar police station.

Police recovered ₹15,000 in cash during the investigation. The two arrested accused have no previous criminal involvement, according to police.