'She refused to sell': How multi-crore Bengal property led to killing of DU professor
A Delhi University professor's murder in east Delhi has been linked to a multi-crore ancestral property in West Bengal. Wanted To Buy Her Bengal House
A Delhi University professor's murder in east Delhi has been linked to a multi-crore ancestral property in West Bengal. Wanted To Buy Her Bengal House, Asked To Vacate Mobile numbers linked to Aadhaar credentials, CCTV helped nab killers NEW DELHI: A multi-crore ancestral property in West Bengal allegedly became the motive behind the murder of Delhi University assistant professor Debosmita Paul, police said on Sunday, after arresting a couple from Bardhaman and apprehending their minor son for the brutal killing in east Delhi's Vasundhara Enclave.The child was brought so they could "blend in".According to investigators, the family had been residing since 2023 in an ancestral property in Bardhaman that had fallen to Paul's share through a family settlement. The couple allegedly wanted to purchase the property and had repeatedly approached her with offers. They claimed that while Paul's siblings were keen on the sale, the 49-year-old professor remained firmly opposed and repeatedly asked the tenants to vacate."She refused to part with her maternal grandfather's legacy and became the primary obstacle in their plans to acquire the property. They allegedly harboured deep resentment," an officer said. Police are verifying the claims.Police said the dispute escalated after Paul issued a final warning asking the family to vacate the disputed property. Investigators believe the couple then conspired to eliminate her and began planning the crime.As part of the alleged conspiracy, the suspects travelled from Bardhaman to Delhi along with their minor child in an apparent attempt to blend in as an ordinary family.
Police said they reached Delhi on June 3 and checked into a guest house in Dallupura.During verification of guest records, investigators found that the couple had used Aadhaar cards belonging to unrelated individuals — identified as residents from Bihar and West Bengal —to conceal their identities.Police said the suspects took several measures to evade detection.They allegedly changed clothes multiple times, used both staircases and lifts while moving through the residential complex, and frequently switched between taxis and autorickshaws to make surveillance tracking difficult.On Wednesday afternoon, the couple allegedly arrived at Paul’s apartment complex in Vasundhara Enclave. CCTV footage captured the masked duo entering the building carrying bags and making their way to the sixth-floor flat. Cops said the society’s security guards did not take down the details of the suspects when they entered the complex.During interrogation, investigators learnt that the professor welcomed the couple inside and even offered them water. During the ensuing conversation, Paul once again asked them to vacate the property in Bardhaman, triggering a confrontation.According to police, the husband allegedly attacked the professor with a steel mortar, causing severe head injuries.As she attempted to resist, he allegedly restrained her while his wife used a sharpedged weapon to slash her hand. Police said the murder took place between 4pm and 4.30pm, and the child was present in the room where the crime happened.“The husband claimed that he had brought the weapon from his hometown, while the woman stated that it was picked up from inside the house.
The BriefWire