Faridabad: A Delhi-based insurance agent was brutally murdered and his body dumped in a drain in neighbouring Haryana’s Faridabad, in what police say was the outcome of a messy love triangle. The victim, identified as Chander, had allegedly been blackmailing a woman he was in love with, prompting her and her fiancé to plot his killing.
Victim found in drain, bike nearby
Police discovered Chander’s body on Sunday morning in a drain near Atmadpur, Faridabad. His motorcycle was found parked close by. The discovery followed a missing person’s complaint lodged by his brother, Madan Gopal, after Chander failed to return home the previous night.
According to investigators, the 35-year-old victim, a resident of East Vinod Nagar in Delhi, had known the woman, Laxmi (29), for nearly five years. Laxmi, who lived in Mithapur in southeast Delhi, was recently engaged to Keshav (26), a resident of Faridabad.
Police say blackmail led to murder
After her engagement, Chander allegedly began blackmailing Laxmi, threatening to expose their past relationship and ruin her marriage plans. Investigators believe that the harassment reached a breaking point, leading Laxmi and her fiancé to plan the murder.
“On October 25, Laxmi called Chander to Mithapur and took him on a motorcycle to a deserted spot near Atmadpur. There, Keshav and two of his friends strangled him with a rope and hit him on the head. They later dumped the body in a drain to destroy evidence,” said a Faridabad Police spokesperson.
Arrests and confessions
Police said both Laxmi and Keshav were arrested on Monday, and during interrogation, they confessed to the crime. The two told investigators that Chander had continued to threaten and extort them even after multiple warnings.
Raids are now underway to trace the two other accomplices, believed to have assisted in the murder and disposal of the body.
“The couple admitted to the plan. We have identified the other two accused and expect arrests soon,” said Faridabad ACP (Crime), confirming that the rope and weapon used in the crime have been recovered.
Investigation underway
Preliminary autopsy reports suggest that strangulation and blunt force trauma were the causes of death. Forensic teams have also collected fingerprints and evidence from the motorcycle and the drain area.
The police are now examining mobile phone records to verify call logs and locations of the accused on the night of the incident. Authorities said Chander’s family has been informed and that his body was handed over after post-mortem.
A case of obsession turned fatal
The tragic case has once again highlighted the dangers of obsession, emotional manipulation, and blackmail in relationships. Officers investigating the case said Chander had been repeatedly warned by Laxmi to stop harassing her but continued to pressurise her emotionally.
Neighbours in Mithapur described Laxmi as “quiet but increasingly anxious” in the days leading up to the murder. Her fiancé Keshav, police said, was “enraged” after learning about the harassment and agreed to take part in the killing.
Conclusion
With two suspects in custody and two more still absconding, Faridabad Police have said that the case is nearing closure. The charges are expected to include murder, criminal conspiracy, and destruction of evidence under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Authorities have urged citizens to report cases of harassment or extortion rather than take the law into their own hands.