NEW DELHI: For days before the alleged killing of his domestic help, dermatologist Dr Manish Gupta was caught in a disturbing spiral of thoughts, police claimed.The 50-year-old doctor, who had been undergoing treatment for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder for nearly a decade, was allegedly struggling with violent thoughts and was trying to decide whom to harm.“He was struggling mentally and having violent thoughts. He was contemplating whether he should kill his wife, son or himself,” a senior police officer said.Investigators believe his mental health condition, combined with repeated disagreements with his wife over their long-time domestic help Meena, may have formed the backdrop to the killing.
Case timeline
- June 18, around 10.30am:
- Meena reaches Gupta’s Mount Kailash residence for work.
- After washing clothes:
- She goes to the terrace to hang laundry.
- Around 11.20am:
- Police suspect she was attacked with a bat and knife.
- 11.36am:
- PCR call received after a resident spots her body.
- Police arrival:
- Gupta is found sitting on the staircase and taken into custody.
- Recovered:
- Cricket bat and blood-stained kitchen knife.
- The accused and victim
- Accused: Dr Manish Gupta, 50, Dermatologist
- Visiting doctor at multiple establishments, including National Heart Institute
- Reportedly under treatment for depression and OCD for nearly 10 years
- Victim: Meena, 45
- Domestic worker in the locality for around 25 years
- Worked at Gupta’s home for over 15 years
- Originally from North 24 Parganas, West Bengal
A trusted domestic help becomes the centre of a family dispute
Meena, 45, had worked at Gupta’s Mount Kailash residence for more than 15 years and was considered a trusted member of the household.Police said Gupta had been wanting to remove her from work for the past few years, but his wife opposed the decision.“He and his wife had been quarrelling about firing Meena as he did not want her to work there. However, she insisted that Meena continue as she had been very helpful and caring about the family.”According to police, the disagreement allegedly became a recurring source of tension between the couple.Meena had also stood by the family during a difficult phase when Gupta’s mother was battling cancer before her death around one-and-a-half years ago.
Cricket bat and knife
On Thursday morning, Meena arrived at the house around 10.30am as part of her daily routine.After washing clothes, she went to the terrace to put them out to dry. Police allege that Gupta followed her there and attacked her with his son’s cricket bat before stabbing her with a knife.“The slit mark on Meena’s neck resembles a medical incision,” the senior police officer said.A resident of a nearby tower later spotted Meena lying in a pool of blood on the terrace from the sixth floor and alerted police.
‘Mujhe faansi dedo’
A PCR call was received around 11.36am after the woman was found lying dead on the terrace of the neighbouring building.When police reached the spot, they found Gupta sitting on the staircase inside the building.The doctor allegedly told officers, “Mujhe faansi dedo (hang me).”Police recovered a blood-stained knife and a bat from the spot.Officials said Gupta allegedly confessed during questioning that he had first attacked Meena with the bat and then stabbed her.
‘Black magic’ suspicion?
During interrogation, police said Gupta claimed he suspected Meena of practising black magic and believed her presence had disturbed peace in his family.However, police said the exact motive behind the killing is still being established.Investigators are looking into several angles, including family disputes, marital tensions and Gupta’s mental health condition.Police are also checking whether he had stopped taking his medication.
Son was at home, wife was away
Police said Gupta’s 19-year-old son was present in the house when the alleged attack took place. After the incident, Gupta allegedly went downstairs and told him that he had attacked Meena.His wife, who is also a doctor and works as an Ayurvedic dermatologist, was not at home at the time. The couple’s son is a first-year LLB student at a private university.
‘She never complained about doctor sir’
Meena’s family said they never heard of any dispute between her and the doctor.Her son Robin said, “I left for work as usual around 6.30am. Later, a relative called and said mother had died. She never complained about ‘doctor sir’ and there were never any issues between them. Why would someone do this?” Robin told TOI.Meena is survived by her husband and son. Her husband lives in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, while Robin works at a private company in Nehru Place.Her sister Shaptami Biswas described her as the most gentle person in the family.“Meena was the most soft-spoken among all of us. We will not return to work until we are given answers about what happened,” she said.
Court sends doctor to police custody
A Delhi court on Friday sent Dr Manish Gupta to two days’ police custody.Judicial Magistrate Anurag Chhabra allowed the police plea seeking custody for further investigation.Police told the court that they needed more time to verify whether anyone else was involved and to uncover more details.The defence opposed the request, saying, “Everything has been seized by the police; he has been in police custody for the last 24 hours. He is already suffering from depression, and he is a well-reputed doctor.”
