A retired sub-inspector of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and his wife have been booked for the alleged murder of a 28-year-old man in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit district, following suspicions that he was in a relationship with their daughter, police officials said on Saturday.
Victim shot dead inside accused’s house
The victim, Sukhdev Singh (28), a resident of Tonadrpur village in the Neuria area, was found shot dead inside the house of the accused couple — Puran Singh (62), a retired sub-inspector of the Central Industrial Security Force, and his wife Gurmeet Kaur, residents of Narayanpur village in Puranpur.
Police said the case was registered based on a complaint by the victim’s father, Harjinder Singh, a farmer, who alleged that Puran Singh suspected Sukhdev of having an illicit relationship with his daughter, which eventually led to the killing.
Family-like ties turned fatal
According to the complaint, Sukhdev had earlier run an IELTS coaching centre from the accused couple’s premises. Although the centre had been shut for over a year, the family reportedly maintained close ties with him. As the couple did not have a son, they treated Sukhdev like a family member, the complainant stated.
The daughter had recently left for Australia on a student visa on December 15, which police believe may have added to tensions within the household.
Conflicting versions of events
On Saturday morning, Sukhdev allegedly received a phone call from Puran Singh and left home without informing his family about the reason. Around 9.30 am, his family was informed that he had been shot dead.
When Harjinder Singh rushed to the scene, he found his son’s body inside Puran Singh’s house. Station House Officer Pawan Pandey confirmed that a licensed pistol belonging to Puran Singh was used in the incident. The bullet reportedly pierced Sukhdev’s chest before exiting and striking a sofa in the room.
Gurmeet Kaur also sustained a bullet injury to her shoulder and was admitted to a government medical facility.
Wife claims suicide, police probe continues
However, Gurmeet Kaur gave a different account to investigators, claiming that Sukhdev had taken ₹50 lakh from her husband in instalments on the pretext of investing in a business and had been avoiding repayment. She alleged that an argument over the money escalated, during which Sukhdev shot her before turning the weapon on himself.
Police said a forensic team has collected evidence from the spot. The bullet that injured Gurmeet Kaur has been sent for examination to determine the weapon used and reconstruct the sequence of events.
Based on the complaint filed by the victim’s father, a case has been registered against Puran Singh and his wife under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 103(1) for murder. Further investigation is underway.