Kanpur: The role of murdered pharmaceutical businessman Vineet Minocha’s 34-year-old son Subrat has come under the scanner after police found that he allegedly refused to identify former servant and contract killer Vishal Gautam despite having spoken to him nearly 300 times in the three months before the crime. Investigators suspect Subrat deliberately withheld the identification to distance himself and his wife, Shalu (30), from the alleged conspiracy.Police found that Subrat and Gautam had spoken 309 times over the previous three months and exchanged 25 WhatsApp calls shortly before the murder. Subrat, Shalu and Vishal had also visited several places and shopped together around 20 days before Vineet (63) was stabbed 26 times on Sept 5, police said.Police said Subrat allegedly tried to delete call history and some numbers from his phone after the incident, further deepening suspicion.Investigators are probing why the couple had hired Vishal again for personal work without Vineet’s knowledge, despite the businessman having removed him earlier. Police also found that Shalu allegedly accompanied Vishal on the day of the murder to get a duplicate key made.Investigators suspect Shalu had hired Vishal for Rs 6 lakh and allegedly handed him the original key for the purpose. Police said Shalu had also informed Vishal when she, Subrat and their son would be away.On the day of the murder, police said Shalu and Vishal spoke 14 times. Police also recovered WhatsApp call records between Shalu and Vishal despite he allegedly deleting their chats.The investigation is also examining a viral video of Shalu dancing at a Kanpur lounge on the night Vineet was stabbed to death. Police are hunting for the person who recorded and circulated the clip to establish how and when it was filmed.DCP West S M Qasim Abidi said the clip came to light during the investigation into Vineet’s murder that took place in the Kalyanpur police station area on Sept 5.Shalu had been allegedly planning the murder for around three months and had gradually developed a rapport with Gautam. Gautam allegedly brought in Raj Kishore, 30, and the two entered the flat after posing as medicine delivery men. Police said they hid in a bedroom and planned to suffocate Vineet to make his death appear natural.When Vineet returned around 10.55pm and discovered them, the duo allegedly attacked him. Gautam and Kishore were arrested after an encounter on Sept 6, while Shalu was arrested the following night and sent to judicial custody.
