Bhopal, July 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a breakthrough, Bhopal police have cracked the sensational double murder of a retired couple, uncovering a deep conspiracy to grab property worth crores of rupees.
The victims, Hemant Philemon and his wife Shakuntala Philemon, were shot dead at their residence in Sudama Nagar Colony, Ashoka Garden area, on the night of June 24. Their bodies were found in a mutilated condition on June 26 when neighbours and a tenant noticed a foul smell emanating from the house.
The victims were in touch with the accused, who conspired with two property dealers, brothers Shrikant and Shashikant. Both siblings have been arrested nearly 20 days after the crime. The murders, according to police, were committed at around 9:30 pm on June 24.
Three used cartridges were recovered from the spot. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to solve the case. A country-made firearm was also recovered from the victims' house.
Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said the police are investigating why the victim was keeping the firearm hidden and what kind of threat the couple may have been facing. When asked if the police have recovered the weapon used in the crime, he said the police have not yet recovered the firearm used in the murder, but the accused acquired it from a person from Agar Malwa, who is also under investigation.
The police have also not yet verified the signatures on the gift deed. Preliminary investigation has revealed that the murders were orchestrated to seize the couple's valuable property. Police suspect the involvement of Shibani, Shakuntala's sister-in-law, in the conspiracy.
Shrikant had earlier helped Shibani sell a property and was later introduced to Hemant for another deal. During the process, a forged gift deed was executed without the couple's or their family's knowledge. The accused allegedly used the weapon in the crime, which they later dumped at an unknown place.
Police said they have information about its location and it will be recovered soon. A joint police team from three stations has been searching for the weapon since morning with the help of the arrested brothers.
The police have scanned at least 1,500 CCTV footages to identify the two brothers as the prime accused among at least 50 other suspects, the Commissioner said. Police had earlier released CCTV footage showing the suspects in raincoats and gloves.
A key breakthrough came when one suspect was identified through a digital payment made while purchasing liquor at a nearby shop. A tenant couple who lived in the victims' house had also gone missing four days before the murders. Police have also seized a few phones for data analysis. A reward of Rs 50,000 had been announced earlier to expedite the investigation.
Source: IANS
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