Kanpur: In a dramatic turnaround in the investigation into the murder of 63-year-old pharmaceutical trader Vineet Minocha, police have arrested his son, Subrat (34), alleging that he masterminded the conspiracy and hired two men to carry out the killing.Police said the investigation so far has not found corroborative evidence against Subrat’s wife, Shalu (30), who had earlier been arrested in the case. However, officers stressed that she has not been given a clean chit yet.Kanpur police commissioner Raghubir Lal told TOI that the investigating officer, inspector KK Tiwari, would submit a report before the court incorporating all evidence, including details emerging from the interrogation of Vineet’s former employee Vishal Gautam, one of the accused.Sources said investigators were still scrutinising the call records between Shalu and Vishal—25 calls on her old number and seven on the new one—as well as her alleged instruction to the gatekeeper to keep the gate open on the day of the murder.DCP (west) Qasim Abidi said the investigation and court proceedings had been affected for some time due to protests by lawyers, which created a roadblock in the case.A senior police officer said Shalu’s alleged role, if any, would ultimately be determined on the basis of evidence and by the court. “Whether she is complicit or not will be decided by the court,” the officer said.Police on Thursday said Subrat had hired Vishal and Raj Kishor to carry out the killing. Investigators said Subrat wanted to eliminate the hurdles his father was allegedly creating for his lavish lifestyle. Police said Subrat was deeply involved in IPL betting, gambling and intoxicants and had accumulated debts of more than Rs 40 lakh.According to the investigation, Subrat received Rs 40,000 a month from his father, but paid about Rs 55,000 monthly towards debt instalments. He allegedly took medicines from the shop and sold them through Vishal to raise money.Police said Subrat feared his father might marry another woman and transfer his movable and immovable property to her.Vishal and Raj were earlier arrested following a police encounter. Shalu was also arrested after the two accused named her during questioning. However, police said evidence subsequently indicated that Subrat had instructed them to name his wife if the conspiracy was uncovered.Investigators cited CCTV footage, call detail records, scientific evidence and recoveries made during the accused’s police custody. Police recovered a duplicate key to Vineet’s flat at Vishal’s instance and blood-stained clothes allegedly worn during the crime from near Central Railway Station at Raj’s instance.The person who made the duplicate key identified Vishal. The role of Subrat has come under the scanner after police found that he allegedly refused to identify the contract killers despite having spoken to Vishal nearly 300 times in the three months before the murder. Investigators suspect Subrat deliberately withheld the identification to distance himself from the alleged conspiracy.WhatsApp chats between Subrat and Vishal had also been deleted from their phones, while Vishal had obtained a new SIM three days before the murder.Police initially said Shalu had provided the flat key. Detailed investigation and call record analysis allegedly showed that Subrat had paid Vishal to have a duplicate key made. Police said evidence did not corroborate Shalu’s involvement and indicated that Subrat alone hatched the conspiracy.A Kanpur Nagar chief judicial magistrate granted police custody of the accused from noon on Sept 23 to noon on Sept 24 for recoveries, questioning and evidence collection.During questioning, Vishal reportedly told police that he had worked at Vineet’s shop before being dismissed about five years ago, but remained in contact with Subrat.
