Kanpur: A 30-year-old woman was arrested on Monday for allegedly masterminding the murder of her father-in-law, a pharmaceutical businessman, after a former employee claimed she hired him for Rs 6 lakh. Police said the alleged murder plot stemmed from a dispute over CCTV cameras installed by the victim in their apartment for security, which the woman claimed violated her privacy and caused her emotional distress.She allegedly provided the former employee with the key to the apartment to help him make a duplicate and later facilitated his entry into the house with an accomplice.According to police, the accused, Shalu Minocha, admitted her involvement in the presence of female police officers after being confronted with the other accused, Vishal Gautam. She allegedly said her father-in-law, Vineet Minocha (63), had installed the CCTV cameras 15-20 days earlier for security purposes.Police said the woman had engaged Vishal, who had previously worked at Minocha’s store. Vishal subsequently enlisted his unemployed acquaintance, Raj Kishor (30), promising him an advance of Rs 30,000. The accused allegedly provided Vishal with the original key to their residence around 20 days before the murder, allowing him to make a duplicate.On Sept 5, the woman reportedly informed the accused that she, along with her husband Subrat and their son, would be attending a party. Police said she permitted Vishal and Raj to enter Ratan Orbit Apartment in Kalyanpur despite initial resistance from the security officer. She allegedly claimed they were delivering medicines and had Vishal registered under the fictitious name Shivam.The suspects reportedly concealed themselves in a bedroom after entering the apartment with the duplicate key. They were allegedly instructed to suffocate Minocha with a pillow to make his death appear as if it resulted from a heart attack.DCP West SM Qasim Abidi said the duo panicked when Minocha entered the bedroom around 11 pm and noticed unusual movement. They allegedly stabbed him multiple times before escaping by leaping over the rear wall. The postmortem examination revealed 26 stab wounds.Minocha was murdered between 10.30 pm on Saturday and 3 am on Sunday while he was alone in the four-room apartment. Shalu and Subrat discovered his bloodied body upon their return and alerted the authorities.CCTV footage showed Vishal and Raj leaving the apartment. Police arrested them following an encounter late Sunday. After receiving treatment, Vishal allegedly told police during questioning that he had killed Vineet on Shalu’s instructions for money.Nothing was stolen from the flat, leading police to suspect personal enmity and a contract killing. Section 61(2) of the BNS, relating to criminal conspiracy, has been added to the case.Police are examining Shalu and Vishal’s call records and questioning Subrat to determine whether he had any role in the murder.
