NEW DELHI: A day after the three people were found dead inside a parked car near Peeragarhi flyover in West Delhi, police have tracked down the man who was captured on CCTV footage sitting in the car dressed as a mystic before three persons were found dead inside the vehicle, with officials hoping that he might be the missing link in the mysterious case.
Meanwhile, the family members of one of the deceased claimed that there was no reason for him to die by suicide.
While police are still trying to ascertain the cause of the death, statements of family members have expressed no suspicion against anyone so far. The deceased have been identified as Randhir (76), Shiv Naresh Singh (47), and Laxmi Devi (40), and the car belonged to Randhir.
Police are still waiting for the primary postmortem examination report to ascertain the reason behind the incident. Meanwhile, a cold drink bottle recovered from the car has been sent for forensic examination, and statements of family members have been recorded.
“The ‘baba’ was seen sitting in the front passenger seat of the car earlier in the day and had interacted with all three, making him a crucial link in the probe. He was in frequent touch with them in the past as well,” a police source said. The source said that the ‘baba’ and another person have been brought in for questioning, and investigators are trying to establish the nature of his relationship with the deceased.
What has further complicated the case is the relationship of Laxmi Devi with the two men. Police said Randhir and Naresh had been known to each other for the past six years and were partners in property-related work. Both families are also familiar with each other.
However, Laxmi was not known to any of the families of the two men. Preliminary inquiry has revealed that Naresh and Laxmi were acquainted and that all three victims were in close contact with the ‘baba’, meeting him multiple times in the past, police said.
Randhir’s family said that he was not financially or mentally weak. One of Randhir’s brothers said, “He had gone to the farm around 9.30am and later went somewhere, along with Shiv Naresh. Police informed us later in the evening about the incident. We were not aware of the woman. This can’t be a case of suicide, and police should investigate the case.”
The family suspects foul play and believes something unfortunate was done to him. They said Randhir left home happy and normal, with no signs of stress or trouble.
Another family member said that she met Randhir in the morning near the house. He told her that he would leave sometime after instructing the workers about the farm-related work. She said that there were no financial disputes with anyone, and the question of suicide does not arise at all.
“Prima facie, the deaths appear to have occurred due to poison intake, but the exact cause will be clear only after the forensic analysis and autopsy reports arrive,” a police officer said.
