Noida killings: key witness ?missing?

The woman who could hold the key to the Nithari probe is missing, report Abhishek Bhalla and Sobhana K.

The woman who could hold the key to the Nithari probe is missing.

HT Image

Maya Sarkar, who was a domestic help at Moninder Singh Pandher's D 5 residence, was picked up by the police for interrogation on December 31, two days after the skeletal remains were recovered from the drain near Pandher’s house. Since then, her neighbours have not seen her.

The Noida police say they are still interrogating her but are evasive on her whereabouts. Maya has not been detained or arrested.

"Maya and her husband have been missing since the day police took them. They have not come returned since then. Kishan's first wife, Gulabi continues to live here," said Jenu Sarkar, a neighbour of Maya, and father of one of the victims, Pinki Sarkar.

“We have not arrested her, but are still interrogating her. Interrogation is a complex process and she might have many more things to reveal about Pandher and Surender Koli," said senior superintendent of police RKS Rathore.

Maya’s husband Kishan is also missing.

Maya was the only regular visitor to Pandher's residence, who can help the police. The police have been tracking Pandher's former driver Satpal Singh but have not found him. The search for Santosh Singh, a sales officer, who is said to be close to Pandher, has also gone cold.

"Since the bloodstains were found in the bathroom, it is possible that Maya Sarkar could have witnessed some signs of the gruesome killings," said a senior Noida police officer.

SSP Rathore, however, parried a query on whether Maya could have seen anything that could incriminating Koli and Pandher.