New Delhi: A 53-year-old man from Delhi has been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife over a long-standing property dispute and attempting to disguise the crime as a suicide. According to police, the accused claimed he had borrowed the idea of misleading investigators from the Hollywood series The Staircase.
The accused, identified as Kamal Singh, was arrested near Mathura Railway Station after a multi-state search operation carried out by the Shahdara police. Investigators said he tried to confuse the investigation by hiding the actual murder weapon and placing another weapon at the scene.
The incident came to light on the night of July 30, when the couple’s son returned to their residence in Gagan Vihar, Shahdara, and found his mother, Komal Singh (50), lying in a pool of blood.
Police said a blood-stained pair of scissors had been placed in the victim’s hand to create the impression that she had died by suicide. However, the couple’s son immediately suspected foul play and accused his father of murdering his mother.
During the investigation, officers recovered a sword, which they believe was the weapon used in the killing. The accused had allegedly concealed the sword in a bag and attempted to dispose of it to destroy evidence.
CCTV footage played a key role in solving the case. Investigators found that after the couple’s two children left the house that morning, only Kamal Singh and his wife remained inside. The footage allegedly captured sounds of distress from the victim before the accused was seen leaving the house carrying a bag.
Police also discovered that Singh had withdrawn nearly ₹7 lakh from his bank accounts before fleeing. Technical surveillance tracked his movement from Delhi towards Gorakhpur, where he was allegedly planning to cross into Nepal. He later changed his route and travelled towards Mathura, reportedly in an attempt to evade detection.
He was eventually arrested near Mathura Railway Station. Police recovered ₹12.75 lakh in cash and a scooter that was allegedly used during his escape.
During interrogation, the accused reportedly admitted that he had planned the murder because of a prolonged family property dispute. He also allegedly confessed to purchasing the scissors several days before the incident in order to stage the crime scene and make the death appear self-inflicted.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are examining all aspects of the case.