After killing wife, 3 daughters, Jaipur man fled to temple seeking ‘divine blessings’

Rahul Jha, who had fled Jaipur hours before the murders came to light Friday morning, was tracked down using CCTV footage.

JAIPUR: A 45-year-old man, absconding since the gruesome murders of his wife and three daughters at their home in the city’s Kardhani area, was arrested Sunday outside a hotel in Reengus town of Sikar district.Rahul Jha, who had fled Jaipur hours before the murders came to light Friday morning, was tracked down using CCTV footage, DCP (West) Prashant Kiran said.Sources familiar with the investigation said Jha had initially left Jaipur for Khatu Shyam Ji to seek divine blessings. He later checked into a nearby hotel, but ran out of money for everyday expenses.After trying in vain to sell his ring to hotel staff, he left the place and made his way to Reengus, the sources added.A special police team tasked with tracking him down positioned itself outside the Reengus hotel Sunday after receiving information that he had been seen moving around it.Officers in plainclothes swooped in as soon as Jha was spotted leaving the hotel with his face covered in a handkerchief. He was identified on the spot and placed under arrest, before being brought to Jaipur.Jha was wanted in connection with the deaths of his wife Geeta (40) and the couple’s daughters Nandani (23), Radhika (17) and Gauri (14).

Police said he has since confessed to their murders, going on to describe an atmosphere of general discord within the family and particularly strained relationships with his wife and eldest daughter. Police had recovered Jha’s blood-stained clothes from the family’s Govind Vatika house, along with his mobile phone, which he had apparently switched off before absconding.