Father-son duo arrested for property dealer’s murder in Malviya Nagar

An 18-year-old youth and his father have been arrested for the murder of a man in a brutal attack over an old enmity in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area, police said on Sunday.

Police said the main accused, 47-year-old Khushi Ram from Auchandi village, committed the crime a day before his son’s 18th birthday, to take advantage of juvenile law provisions since his son was also involved in the murder.

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Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Ankit Chauhan, said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim had physically assaulted Khushi Ram in 2016 during a property dispute, leaving him bedridden for almost nine months,” said Ankit Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (south).

Since then, Khushi Ram harboured a deep grudge and was determined to seek revenge, he added.

“Lakhpat Singh (56), was attacked by two men armed with a cricket bat and a firearm while he was on his morning walk in Vijay Mandal Park, Begumpur on Friday,” said DCP Chauhan.

Singh was rushed to the AIIMS Trauma Centre in an unconscious condition, where the attending doctors pronounced him dead, the officer said, adding that the medico-legal report revealed multiple penetrating injuries, including gunshot wounds.

During the investigation, more than 650 CCTV cameras spanning 55 km were examined along with the technical surveillance gathered to trace the suspects, the DCP said.

The officer further said that the black motorcycle used in the crime with its number plate removed, has been recovered.

The accused intentionally planned the crime a day before Khushi Ram’s son turned 18 with an aim to take advantage of juvenile law provisions.

The juvenile was assigned the task of conducting surveillance of the victim’s daily routine before the duo carried out the fatal attack.

“A detailed analysis of call data records and the suspects’ movements led investigators to Khushi Ram, who had a record of several criminal cases against him, including assault, trespass, and criminal intimidation,” police said.

During interrogation, Ram confessed to having been waiting for years to avenge the assault and humiliation at the hands of the deceased.

Further investigation into this case is ongoing to recover the weapon used in the crime, the officer stated.