Congress leader Kamal Nath's cousin, sister-in-law murdered in Greater Noida
What's the story
On Friday, a distant cousin of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Kamal Nath was found murdered inside his home in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The deceased, Narendra Nath, was 70 years old.
His wife, Suman, 65, was also killed.
The prime suspects, in this case, are the guests whom the couple hosted that day, said the police.
Here's what happened.
Couple
Couple stayed in three-leveled house, Narendra was a businessman
The couple lived in their three-leveled house in Alpha II. While Narendra had a spare parts business in Delhi, Suman was a yoga practitioner.
Narendra used to lend money to local vendors, and meet plumbers, electricians, and masons in the basement of his house. Suman, allegedly, disapproved of this behavior.
She had raised an objection on the day of the murders as well.
Details
Suman didn't like the guests her husband entertained
Suman spoke to her daughter and son-in-law, Jatin Thankappan, over the phone around 10:55 pm on Thursday, and complained about the guests her husband was entertaining, reports TOI.
She told Jatin, "A party is underway on the lower floor of the house where the guests are drinking and eating although I had asked them against doing it."
Jatin had advised her to sleep.
Series of events
After Suman didn't answer phone, son-in-law went to the house
The son-in-law then called Suman around 5:15 am but she didn't answer. Worried, he then rushed to the Alpha II house, only to find his mother-in-law's body lying on the floor, under a quilt.
"Blood had oozed from her body and she had injuries on the head and chest," he told the daily.
Later, Narendra's body was found in the basement.
Injuries
Injuries revealed Narendra was gagged, Suman was shot
The injuries disclosed that the husband and wife were brutally attacked. While Narendra could have been gagged and strangled, Suman was shot in the chest after being thrashed.
"His hands and legs were tied and his mouth had tape on it. His face was blackened. There was a head injury too," Jatin said about his father-in-law.
Police believe Narendra was killed first.
Behavior
Narendra gave people money to buy alcohol
Separately, the couple's son Rohit, who lives in a society in Greater Noida, apprised police that his father loaned money and people would frequently visit the Alpha II house.
Additional DCP (Greater Noida) Vishal Pandey said Narendra gave people money to buy liquor "which they consumed together in the basement."
"It seems it was someone who he knew that orchestrated the crime," he added.
Suspicion
Family members believe guests murdered the couple: Senior cop
Meanwhile, Greater Noida Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Kumar Singh said bereaved family members have pointed fingers toward the guests.
"Prima facie, it appears that some people had been invited over to the house for a party where they had consumed liquor. Glasses, liquor bottles, food items such as chowmein and momos, and cigarette stubs have been found from the house," he told PTI.
Quote
'Suspects were known to the couple'
"Initial probe suggests no signs of struggle during the entry of the unidentified suspects. It appears the door of the house was opened by the couple and suspects, known to them, had a normal entry," he said, assuring that case would be solved soon.