Delhi man held for wife's murder over property row, ₹12.75 lakh seized
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A 53-year-old man was arrested for allegedly murdering his wife at their residence in Gagan Vihar, East Delhi's Jagatpuri area, following a prolonged property dispute, police said on 3 August 2026. The accused, identified as Kamal Singh, was apprehended near Mathura Railway Station, and ₹12.75 lakh in cash was recovered from his possession. Police have termed the killing a premeditated murder.
How the Crime Came to Light
On 30 July, Jagatpuri Police Station received a PCR call from Gaurav Singh, who reported that his father had killed his mother. Officers rushed to the Gagan Vihar flat and found the body of Komal Singh, 50, lying in a pool of blood near a sofa in the drawing room. A blood-stained pair of scissors, suspected to be the murder weapon, was recovered from a table inside the house.
According to police, both children — Gaurav and his sister Gaurika Singh — had left home earlier that day, having witnessed an argument between their parents over the registration of a Jagatpuri property. When repeated calls to their mother went unanswered through the day, Gaurav returned home at around 9.15 pm, unlocked the flat with his own key, and discovered his mother with multiple injuries.
The Investigation and Manhunt
An FIR (No. 289/2026) was registered on 31 July under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The probe was assigned to Inspector Surendra Sharma, and nearly 10 teams from Jagatpuri Police Station and the Shahdara District Special Staff were deployed under the supervision of ACP Vivek Vihar, Mahender Singh, on directions from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shahdara.
Investigators relied on CCTV analysis, technical surveillance, and electronic evidence. Footage reportedly established that after both children left, only the accused and the deceased remained in the flat. A woman's scream was allegedly captured during the relevant time window, and subsequent footage purportedly showed the accused concealing the weapon in a bag before leaving the residence.
Financial records revealed that Kamal Singh had withdrawn nearly ₹7 lakh from his bank accounts shortly before going into hiding. Technical inputs traced his movements from Delhi towards Gorakhpur; investigators said he initially planned to flee to Nepal but diverted towards Mathura in an apparent bid to mislead authorities. On 2 August, he allegedly made a second attempt to flee towards Nepal, believing border vigilance had eased, before being intercepted near Mathura Railway Station.
What the Accused Allegedly Told Police
During interrogation, Kamal Singh allegedly confessed to planning the murder over a prolonged property dispute. He reportedly told investigators that he purchased the scissors in advance from Hari Nagar and attempted to conceal and dispose of the weapon after the crime. Police further said the accused disclosed he had been influenced by the Hollywood crime series 'The Staircase' and believed disposing of the weapon would help him evade detection. He also allegedly admitted to intending to gain control over family properties.
Who the Accused and Victims Are
Kamal Singh, son of Ajab Singh, is a resident of Gagan Vihar and works as a freelance SAP software consultant with a background in Electronics and Communication Engineering. His daughter Gaurika Singh is employed as a German language trainer with a private firm in Noida, while his son Gaurav Singh is an MBBS graduate from CIMS, Lucknow, currently preparing for postgraduate medical entrance examinations.
Apart from the ₹12.75 lakh in cash, police also recovered a scooter allegedly used by the accused to flee the scene. Forensic examinations and further recoveries are part of the ongoing investigation.