New Delhi: After the Meghalaya honeymoon murder, another story of betrayal has surfaced in Delhi.
Police have arrested a woman and her brother-in-law for the premeditated murder of her husband, a 36-year-old jeweller, in Dwarka, southwest Delhi. What initially appeared to be a case of accidental electrocution has now unravelled into a calculated murder, allegedly driven by an illicit relationship and property greed.
Karan Dev, the deceased, was found unconscious at his residence on July 13 and was declared dead at Mata Rooprani Maggo Hospital. The cause of death was presumed to be an electric shock from faulty wiring. However, a forensic examination was ordered after suspicions arose.
The probe took a sharp turn when Karan’s younger brother Kunal reported finding suspicious WhatsApp and Instagram messages exchanged between Karan’s wife Sushmita Dev, 35, and Rahul Dev, 24 — Karan’s cousin. Their exchanges, some reportedly made in real time during the commitment of the crime, hinted at an elaborate conspiracy to eliminate Karan. One chilling message reportedly read: “Check how long it takes to die.”
According to police, Sushmita and Rahul had been in a relationship for the past two years. Their motive, investigators said, was twofold — to remove Karan as an obstacle to their union and gain access to his property. The plan was executed with remarkable precision — the duo allegedly mixed around 15 sleeping pills into Karan’s dinner to sedate him. Once he was unconscious, they administered a fatal electric shock using a live wire, making it appear as if Karan had died by accident.
Autopsy report led to doubts
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Ankit Singh confirmed the arrests, stating that the accused have been booked for murder under section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He noted that the post-mortem report corroborated the electrocution theory but included key observations that did not align with an accidental death. The timing of hospital admission and the deliberate avoidance of an autopsy by the family added to the suspicion.
Digital trail left behind
What truly exposed the conspiracy, police said, was the digital trail left behind. Screenshots of the lovers’ chats, audio calls, and deleted messages recovered from their phones painted a picture of a meticulously planned crime. Investigators believe Rahul was present in the house at the time of the murder, and that Sushmita was complicit in administering the drugs and the electric shock.
The two accused are in custody and undergoing interrogation, even as police are examining additional digital evidence, including their call detail records, to determine whether any other individual/s were involved or had knowledge of the plot.