With the arrest of a 25-year-old man, the police in Gautam Buddh Nagar today claimed to have cracked a two-month-old case in which two persons were drowned but their death was considered accidental.
Saurabh Singh, a resident of Kashyap Colony in Sector-48 here, was arrested yesterday for killing his friend Nagendra Chauhan, 33, the police said.
Saurabh, Nagendra and Bhanu, 34, were friends for last five-six years. In June this year, Nagendra and Bhanu had died after "drowning" in Gang canal in Muradnagar where the three had gone together, the police said.
"It was initially reported that Nagendra and Bhanu have died of drowning and Suarabh had gone missing without any information, Circle Officer (CO), City 2nd, Rajeev Kumar Singh told reporters.
An FIR was registered at Sector-49 police station on a complaint by the victim's family, but they suspected a foul play in the case. Later, on the request of the family members it was transferred to Sector-24 police station.
Saurabh was on radar of the police team because of his disappearance from the crime scene under mysterious circumstances, the CO said.
He said media reports and a general perception was that several people had lost their lives in the Gang canal in Muradnagar in recent times.
"So, it initially emerged that Nagendra and Bhanu had drowned like some other people had in that canal. But Nagendra's autopsy report revealed injuries on head and private parts, raising suspicion over his death, he said.
The police team then re-analysed the entire episode and evidences, studied the route, interacted with the locals at the crime spot including the life guards at the canal.
"During probe he (Saurabh) did not reveal the truth at once. It was only after we posed tougher questions that he was left with no logical answers and got caught, Singh said, claiming that Saurabh has confessed to the crime.
Saurabh was part-time engaged as a washerman while Nagendra had an electronics shop. Saurabh was financially weak and owed around Rs 5 lakh to Nagendra, the police officer said.
"The money was not taken all at once, but it was accumulated over four-five years, Singh said
The accused was also furious at Nagendra because he would often make indecent and vulgar comments about his younger sister and lusted on her.
So, he (Saurabh) had two things in mind. One, that he need not return the money and anger over Nagendra's intentions for his sister, the policeman said.
On June 23, the three had to go for a wedding in Rampur. It was then that Saurabh hatched a plan to eliminate Nagendra, Singh said.
Saurabh proposed that the three, who were to go in Bhanu's car, first go for a bath in the Gang canal in Muradnagar and have fun on their way to the wedding. The other two agreed.
He had planned to get them drunk before getting into the canal. While bathing, Nagendra and Bhanu actually started drowning under the influence of alcohol, while Saurabh remained safe as he had avoided drinking, the CO said.
Soon some locals emerged for help and it was decided that the two be rushed to a hospital.
"Saurabh said he would take Nagendra to the hospital in the car, while Bhanu be helped by others. He stopped the car in an isolated place midway and checked on Nagendra, who was hardly speaking.
Saurabh soon pulled out a wrench from the boot of the car and hit Nagendra on the head and on his private parts, leaving him dead, the police officer said.
He then dumped the body in the same canal but at some distance in order to mislead others into believing that the body may have arrived there after Nagendra drowned, Singh said.
Meanwhile, Bhanu was rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead of drowning by the doctors, the police said.
After dumping Nagendra's body, Saurabh had returned home but come under police lens. However, there was not enough evidence initially to establish his hand in the crime, the police said.
Saurabh was finally arrested yesterday after all evidences indicated his involvement and then he himself confessed to killing Nagendra, the police said.
He has been charged under Indian Penal Code sections 302 (murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), among others.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
