Three people found dead inside a parked car on northwest Delhi’s Peeragarhi flyover on Sunday were victims of a premeditated murder plot driven by greed, police said on Wednesday, ruling out earlier suspicions of suicide. Investigators have arrested a self-styled “tantrik” who allegedly poisoned the trio after luring them with promises of supernatural rituals that could multiply their money.
The accused, identified as Kamruddin alias “baba,” is a resident of Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh and is said to have operated a so-called tantrik centre. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Sachin Sharma, Kamruddin targeted vulnerable individuals by claiming he could perform rituals to bring about “dhanvarsha” — a shower of wealth — and double or triple their money.
The three victims — Randhir (76), Shiv Naresh (42), and Laxmi (40) — were residents of Nangli Dairy, Baprola, and Jahangirpuri in Delhi. Their bodies were discovered inside a car parked along the service lane of the Peeragarhi flyover after passersby noticed them lying motionless and alerted the police. At first glance, there were no visible external injuries, ligature marks, or signs of struggle, leading investigators to suspect a possible case of suicide.
However, preliminary medical examination suggested that the deaths were caused by ingestion of poison. Families of the deceased firmly ruled out suicide, prompting police to widen the scope of their probe.
“Detailed technical analysis and interrogation of connected persons revealed that the victims were in contact with Kamruddin, who had assured them of financial gains through tantric rituals,” Sharma said.
Police investigations revealed that Laxmi had been introduced to Kamruddin about two months ago. She later introduced him to Shiv Naresh and Randhir. The accused allegedly convinced them to participate in a special “pooja” for dhanvarsha and instructed them to bring ₹2 lakh in cash along with liquor and cold drinks as part of the ritual requirements.
According to Sharma, the trio travelled to Loni, near the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, a day before the incident and were again in contact with Kamruddin on the day of the murders. Technical surveillance indicated that an additional person was present in the car as they returned from Loni. Further analysis confirmed that the person was Kamruddin, who boarded the vehicle in Loni and exited before the crime came to light.
During interrogation, Kamruddin initially attempted to mislead investigators but later allegedly confessed to the crime. Police said he had prepared laddoos laced with poison and accompanied the victims in their car. Inside the vehicle, he reportedly served them liquor, cold drinks, and the poisoned sweets. After the three lost consciousness, he fled with the cash and other valuables.
From the vehicle, police recovered liquor bottles, cold drink bottles, empty glasses, mobile phones, cash, helmets, jackets, Aadhaar cards, and other personal belongings and documents. The presence of these items corroborated the sequence of events described during interrogation.
Sharma described the accused as a habitual offender who had previously been involved in serious criminal cases. “He killed the three as part of a well-planned conspiracy for financial gain,” the officer said.
The case has once again highlighted the dangers posed by self-styled godmen and tantriks who exploit superstition and financial desperation. What initially appeared to be a mysterious case of possible suicide on a busy Delhi flyover has now unravelled into a chilling tale of deception, poison, and calculated betrayal. Police said further investigation is underway to determine whether the accused was involved in similar offences in the past.
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