New Delhi: A week after a burnt body was found in northwest Delhi’s Alipur, Delhi Police has arrested the business partner of the deceased. According to police, the victim was allegedly putting pressure on his partner to sell a property, which ultimately led to the murder.Police said that on May 2, a partially burnt body was discovered. During an inspection of the crime scene, an empty cartridge was recovered. Efforts were made to identify the deceased, and a case of murder was registered.The deceased was later identified as Santosh Kumar, alias Masterji (62), a resident of Nathupura.Deputy commissioner of police (Outer North) Hareshwar V Swami said that after analysing hundreds of CCTV footage, examining multiple call detail records of suspects, interrogations, and relying on local intelligence, one suspect—Jagarnath Shah, alias Lala—was apprehended. Shah was last seen with the deceased. Police said, Shah, who was also the deceased’s business partner, confessed to the crime upon interrogation.“Shah has been arrested. He disclosed that the deceased was putting pressure on him to sell his property in Swaroop Nagar. The weapon used in the crime, the vehicle used to commit the offence, and an empty petrol bottle have been recovered,” police said.According to police, on June 1, Shah took Santosh from his office in Swaroop Vihar for a drive in his XUV car, under the pretence of discussing property matters. He drove around various locations in Delhi, searching for a secluded place to commit the murder. Around 8 pm, they reached the Mukhmelpur-Hiranki Pushta Road, a deserted area. There, Shah allegedly shot Santosh in the head and set the body on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence before fleeing the scene. On the way, he disposed of the weapon and the inflammable bottle, both of which were later recovered by the police.
