‘Rs 6L deal’: Killer bahu’s husband arrested in Kanpur trader murder case

Subrat’s arrest followed his confrontation with Vishal during the 24-hour custody remand of Vishal, Rajkishore and Shalu.

KANPUR: Police arrested drug trader Vineet Minocha’s son Subrat late Wednesday after servant Vishal Gautam alleged that Subrat had offered him Rs 6 lakh to kill his father and instructed him to implicate Subrat’s wife Shalu if caught.Police commissioner Raghubir Lal said the investigation, based on Vishal’s statement and circumstantial and electronic evidence, concluded that Subrat was involved in the murder.Subrat was due to be produced before the court concerned today.Vineet (60) was stabbed to death at his Ratan Orbit apartment in Kalyanpur on Sept 5. Police arrested Shalu and alleged contract killers Vishal and Rajkishore the next day.Subrat’s arrest followed his confrontation with Vishal during the 24-hour custody remand of Vishal, Rajkishore and Shalu. Investigators found that Vishal had obtained a new SIM days before the murder and made his first call from it to Subrat, Lal said.Vishal had earlier alleged that Shalu offered him Rs 6 lakh for the killing. During custodial questioning on Wednesday, however, he claimed Subrat had offered the money and instructed him to name Shalu if arrested.

Vishal also alleged that Subrat had earlier arranged a theft at his own shop through him, leading to frequent disputes between father and son. Police said Subrat disclosed that he had a debt of Rs 15 lakh.Subrat said he had been intoxicated when he earlier failed to identify Vishal. Police said he could not answer questions when confronted with chats and call records.Police were investigating new information concerning Shalu, Lal said.

During her confrontation with Subrat at Kalyanpur police station, Shalu became emotional and asked about their son, while Subrat kept his distance.Investigators took Shalu, Vishal and Rajkishore to Z Square Mall, Kalyanpur police station and IIT police outpost. They examined their movements at the mall, call records and the flat key.Acting on Rajkishore’s information, police recovered a blood-stained cloth, a gamchha and the flat key from a vacant plot in Ratan Orbit. Police alleged that Shalu had given Vishal the gamchha to cover his face during the murder.Shalu was kept overnight at Kalyanpur women’s help desk, while Vishal and Rajkishore in remained at the police station. A doctor was deployed after Shalu’s blood pressure rose.