On Wednesday, law enforcement in Prayagraj announced that they have made significant progress in the investigation of the murders of four individuals from a business-oriented family. Authorities stated that the son of an elderly couple, in collusion with a friend, orchestrated the killings of his parents and sister before ultimately being killed himself during a dispute over stolen jewelry.
The discovery of decomposed bodies prompted the investigation, leading to the arrest of Sunny Gupta a day later. Police recovered the suspected murder weapon, an iron pipe, along with over 1002 grams of gold and 360 grams of silver jewelry.
The case emerged on Tuesday evening in the South Malaka area, where Manjeet Kesarwani alerted the police about his uncle, Virendra Vaishya, whose home had been locked for two days, emitting a foul odor. Upon breaking the lock, officers found the bodies of 70-year-old Virendra, his 65-year-old wife Anita, and their 45-year-old daughter Meenakshi.
Authorities reported that Virendra and Anita were discovered deceased on a bed, while Meenakshi’s body was located nearby on the upper floor. All three victims had suffered head injuries inflicted by a heavy object.
The Vaishya family resided on the upper levels of the building, which also housed a market complex on the ground floor. Their son, Abhishek, aged 40, was initially considered the prime suspect due to his absence from the scene. However, his body was later found in his locked shop, also bearing similar head injuries.
Investigations revealed a deteriorating relationship between Virendra and Abhishek, primarily driven by financial disputes and issues regarding property. In 2022, Virendra had disinherited Abhishek from his estate. Blood-stained garments thought to belong to Abhishek were discovered at the residence, alongside indications of efforts to erase evidence of the crime.
Police utilized surveillance footage to identify Sunny Gupta, a friend of Abhishek who operated a snack shop in the same market. The CCTV footage captured an individual, later recognized as Sunny, leaving the residence while wearing clothing belonging to Virendra.
Sunny was apprehended at his home in the Mutthiganj area. During questioning, he disclosed that he had been drinking with Abhishek in his shop earlier on May 31 when Abhishek proposed a plan to retrieve jewelry worth a significant amount from his home. Burdened by debt, Abhishek convinced Sunny to assist him in eliminating his family members to facilitate the theft.
The two men executed their plan that same day, with Meenakshi being the first target as she came downstairs to open her shop around 5 PM. Abhishek attacked her with the iron pipe, resulting in critical injuries. They then carried her upstairs, where she later died from her wounds.
Subsequently, Sunny and Abhishek entered the bedroom and assaulted Virendra and Anita with the same iron rod, leading to their deaths. The bodies were left on the bed and covered with clothing. In an attempt to mislead investigators, Abhishek wrote a message on a piece of cardboard attributing the murders to his brother and sister-in-law, known by the nicknames Bunty and Babli. They disposed of incriminating items, including a pen and electronic devices, in a water tank before returning downstairs.
Conflicts arose between Sunny and Abhishek regarding their share of the stolen jewelry, culminating in Sunny allegedly killing Abhishek with the same iron rod on the premises. Afterward, Sunny attempted to destroy evidence by applying various cleaning agents to the bodies and the scene. He subsequently locked up the house and shop before leaving.
Ultimately, the stolen jewelry was located within Sunny’s shop, which was situated on the same property.
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