KANPUR: Five days after pharmaceutical trader Vineet Manocha was found murdered in his Kanpur flat, the case took a fresh turn on Thursday as his daughter-in-law Shalu Manocha’s family disputed the police theory that she masterminded the killing, saying she shared a close bond with her father-in-law and questioning how she could allegedly plan the crime while her husband Subrat remained unaware.Shalu’s elder brother Dheeraj Arora and sister Sonia Mehrotra told reporters that the allegations against her were difficult to believe, claiming she shared a close relationship with Vineet and looked after his food and daily needs.They also questioned Subrat’s silence, saying the family had been unable to contact him since the murder.
Shalu’s family questions ‘mastermind’ theory
Arora said Shalu had maintained a close bond with her father-in-law and and looked after his food and daily needs.He also questioned why Subrat had not been in contact with the family since the killing and how Shalu could have remained in touch with the alleged contract killers without her husband knowing.Police, meanwhile, are examining Subrat’s role but have not found direct evidence against him so far, Commissioner of Police Raghubir Lal said.“Subrat has neither been arrested nor made an accused in the case,” Lal said, adding that his call detail records and other intelligence inputs were being examined.Police are probing how Shalu could allegedly remain in contact with alleged contract killers Vishal Gautam and Raj Kishore while planning the murder without her husband becoming aware of it.“If his involvement is established during the investigation, action will be taken against him,” Lal said.
Couple’s party alibi under police scanner
According to police, Shalu allegedly arranged for Vishal and Raj Kishore to enter the apartment and hide in her bedroom before leaving with Subrat for a party.The couple allegedly reached the lounge around 10.30pm and returned home around 3am, when they found Vineet’s body.Investigators are also examining videos purportedly showing Shalu dancing at the gathering and verifying whether the footage was actually recorded on the night of the murder.
Police recover deleted messages, examine call records
“We are also examining communication between Shalu and Vishal. We have recovered data from their seized phones and are trying to retrieve deleted messages,” Lal said.Police said 49 messages exchanged between Shalu and Vishal between May 1 and the day of the murder had been deleted.During the same period, the two allegedly exchanged 309 calls, according to police.
Shalu’s lawyer disputes ‘high-society party’ description
Shalu’s lawyer Shivakant Dixit said the gathering attended by the couple was a regular kitty involving people associated with the pharmaceutical trade.He rejected the description of it as a “high-society party”.Pharmaceutical trader Vineet Manocha, 60, was found murdered inside his Kanpur flat on September 5. Based on a complaint filed by his son Subrat, police registered an FIR.The investigation into the murder and the alleged roles of those linked to the case is continuing.(With PTI inputs)
