'Take Wife's Name If Caught': Son Told Hitmen Before UP Businessman's Murder

Police have arrested the son of pharmaceutical dealer Vineet Manocha in connection with the trader's murder earlier this month.

Commissioner of Police, Raghubir Lal, told PTI that Subrat Manocha has been arrested and would be produced before the court concerned later on Thursday.

The arrest came after police confronted Subrat with alleged contract killer Vishal Gautam during the 24-hour custody remand of Vishal, his associate Rajkishore and Subrat's wife Shalu, Lal added.

Vishal told police officials associated with the investigation that Subrat had asked him to kill his father and had allegedly promised him Rs 6 lakh, Lal said and added, Vishal also claimed that Subrat had told him to name Shalu if he was caught.

Police are verifying Vishal's allegations against call records and other digital and circumstantial evidence. The police commissioner said Subrat had not confessed to the murder.

Police investigators also found that Vishal had obtained a new SIM just a couple of days before the murder and made his first call from the number to Subrat, the Lal said.

Police questioned Subrat, Shalu and Vishal in several rounds on Wednesday night.

During one confrontation, Shalu allegedly broke down and told police that she had been implicated to protect Subrat.

Police are continuing to verify the allegations made by both sides.

Vineet, 60, was stabbed to death at his Ratan Orbit apartment in Kalyanpur on September 5. Police arrested Shalu and alleged contract killers Vishal and Rajkishore the following day.

During the investigation, police had initially suspected Shalu's involvement. Subrat, who had remained under suspicion, was detained and questioned extensively before his arrest.

Police said investigators had prepared more than 100 questions and were examining the accused over their movements, phone calls, financial transactions and other links surrounding the murder.

During the remand, police also took Vishal to Ratan Orbit, where he allegedly threw a key while fleeing after the murder. Police said the key was recovered from an empty plot adjoining the apartment complex.

Rajkishore was taken to Kanpur Central railway station, where police claimed to have recovered his blood-stained trousers and a black scarf from behind a public toilet on his pointing-out.

The 24-hour custody remand of Shalu, Vishal and Rajkishore ends at noon on Thursday, after which they are scheduled to be taken back to jail following a medical examination.