NEW DELHI: A 20-year-old Delhi University student, Arjun Tanwar, was arrested for murdering his father, a retired Armyman, mother and his sister at their residence in south Delhi’s Neb Sarai. Tanwar allegedly committed the murders early on Wednesday, the couple’s wedding anniversary. In a bid to mislead cops, he went for his usual early morning run, and on returning raised an alarm that his family had been murdered.
According to police, the accused, Arjun, believed that his father, Rajesh Kumar (51), intended to transfer ownership of his property to his sister, Kavita (23). This, coupled with his father’s purported disapproval of his boxing career and public humiliation, fuelled Arjun’s anger and resentment towards his family, cops said.
Police received a call from Arjun at 6.53am, claiming that his parents were murdered. The investigation revealed that the victims’ throats were slit, and they sustained multiple stab wounds.
After murders, 20-year-old followed his daily routine
Rajesh’s body was found on the first floor, while his 46-year-old wife Komal’s and daughter Kavita’s bodies were discovered on the ground floor, each on separate beds. Neighbours who witnessed the scene reported that clothing was placed around the victims’ necks to stem the flow of blood.
A team under the supervision of DCP (South) Ankit Chauhan scanned multiple CCTV footages and found no signs of forced entry or burglary. Everything inside the house appeared to be in its original place. “When we questioned Arjun, he started giving different answers, and there were multiple contradictions,” joint CP (south) Sanjay Kumar Jain said, adding that Arjun subsequently confessed to the crime.
The team that cracked the case was formed under ACP Abhinendra Jain and led by inspector (AATS) Umesh Kumar.
During interrogation, Arjun revealed that he devised the plot to eliminate his family members a week ago. He chose Wednesday, which was his parents’ wedding anniversary, believing that no one would suspect him.
To create a web of deception, he went out of the house at 5.30am for his daily morning run. “When he returned, as per his plan, he rushed to a gym where he works out and informed the gym owner that his parents had been murdered,” police said. He then alerted the neighbours and relatives.
He further told police that he first killed his sister and then his father. His mother went to the bathroom, and as soon as she returned, he killed her. The sister and mother showed resistance, which was evident from the nature of their injuries, while he killed his father in his sleep. He used his father’s Army knife for the murders.
“He told us that he opted for slitting their throats as he knew it would prevent them from screaming. He was so enraged with his father that he stabbed him in the head,” police said.
Arjun said his father regularly scolded him over his daily routine and studies. He was also angry that his parents supported his sister, who was pursuing a master’s degree and doing well in her studies. The accused was also pursuing a BA in political science from a college affiliated with Delhi University. He is a trained boxer and represented Delhi in boxing and won a silver medal. He studied at Army Public School in Dhaula Kuan.
“Arjun harboured a deep grudge against his father and family members, feeling that no one supported him. He felt neglected and isolated. He also suspected that his father was planning to give their property to his sister,” police said.
Rajesh reportedly reprimanded and physically assaulted him in front of others outside their home. According to sources, on Dec 1, during his sister’s birthday celebration, his father had physically assaulted him.
Police are also scanning Arjun’s digital devices to check if he watched any videos to plan his crime.