In the tranquil neighborhood of Gandhi Vihar, Timarpur, Delhi, a house stands as a silent testament to a night of terror on October 6th, when flames consumed a life. As the clock approached midnight, a massive fire ignited in E-60, causing panic among residents. Firefighters battled the inferno for hours before finally extinguishing it, only to uncover a charred corpse beyond the door.
The deceased was identified as 32-year-old Ramkesh Meena, who was preparing for UPSC exams while residing in the flat. Initially deemed a result of a short circuit or gas cylinder explosion, police quickly suspected a far more sinister plot was smoldering amid the flames. Forensic experts were summoned for a thorough evaluation.
Gathering evidence amidst the ruins, police and forensic teams uncovered clues in the ashes. Reviewing CCTV footage, authorities were shocked to see a boy and a girl entering the flat before the fire, their faces obscured by cloth.
Source: aajtak
Precisely 39 minutes later, at around 2:57 AM, the pair departed. Moments later, the fire erupted. Suspicions of premeditated murder were confirmed. An unusual twist surfaced when investigators found the room's grill locked from the inside, suggesting no outsider’s presence.
This baffling detail initially perplexed the police until forensic analysis revealed the grill’s rods were bent, indicating manipulation from within—a cunning maneuver by the 'forensic killer' that initially misled the investigation. CCTV aided police in identifying the girl—Amrita Chauhan.
October 18: Amrita Chauhan Arrested
Amrita Chauhan, a 21-year-old BSc Forensic Science student from Moradabad, was recognized. Her accomplice, Sumit Kashyap, aged 27, was her former boyfriend. Both had gone off the grid since the incident, but their last known location was near E-60 flat. After 12 days of persistent inquiry, police apprehended Amrita on October 18.
Source: aajtak
What Triggered Such a Heinous Crime?
Under intense questioning, Amrita divulged that the story mirrored a film plot. Initially, romantically involved with Sumit, Amrita later lived with Ramkesh, leading to a pivotal twist. Ramkesh secretly saved private photos of her, using them to blackmail her.
Plotting to End Ramkesh's Threat
Despite her pleas for deletion, Ramkesh refused. Infuriated, Amrita reached out to Sumit, expressing her devastation. Assuring her he would fix everything, Sumit and Amrita conspired to permanently eliminate Ramkesh. On the night of October 5, Amrita, Sumit, and Sandeep Kumar carried out their plan at Ramkesh's room.
Strangled, Then Torched with Oil and Spirits
They collectively strangled him before annihilating evidence by dousing the body with oil, ghee, and liquor, setting it ablaze. Leveraging LPG expertise, Sumit unleashed the gas cylinder to spark an eventual explosion, simulating an accidental calamity. The trio meticulously executed their foul scheme.
Source: aajtak
Sinister Schemes of a Forensic Mind
Amrita cunningly employed her forensic knowledge to mask the crime as an accident. By bending the grill's rods, she closed the door from within, misleading authorities to believe it was shut from inside. Initially, the ruse worked until telltale cut marks unraveled the conspiracy. The third accomplice, Sandeep, eluded CCTV capture, possibly escaping through an alternate route, per police suspicions.
'Educated Criminals Pose Greater Threats'
As investigations continue into Sandeep's involvement, a senior Delhi Police official remarked, “Educated criminals are often the most dangerous. They don't just commit crimes, they execute them with precision. This case, involving a forensic student who harnessed academic knowledge for lethal use, is indeed shocking.”
