New Delhi, July 27: A 42-year-old domestic worker was allegedly murdered by his colleague at a farmhouse in Chhattarpur after refusing to lend him Rs 10,000, police said on Sunday.
The body of the victim, Sita Ram, was recovered from a septic tank on the premises, prompting the arrest of 47-year-old Chandra Prakash, a driver employed at the same farmhouse for the past seven years.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ankit Chauhan said a missing person report for Sita Ram, a native of Uttar Pradesh, was registered at Mehrauli Police Station on July 26.
“Sita Ram had worked at the farmhouse for a decade and was staying alone there while the owner was away,” Chauhan said in a statement.
Alarm was raised when other domestic staff noticed the main doors of the property were left open and Sita Ram was nowhere to be found. A police team launched a search and later discovered his body concealed inside the property’s septic tank.
Crime and forensic units were called in to examine the scene, and the body was sent for a post-mortem. Based on preliminary findings, police registered a case under Sections 103(1) (murder) and 238(a) (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage, mobile phone data, and questioned other workers. They soon found that Prakash was missing from the area, raising suspicion.
“Technical surveillance and local sources led us to Palam in southwest Delhi, where the accused was traced and taken into custody,” the DCP said.
During questioning, Prakash allegedly admitted to the killing.
“He said he had asked Sita Ram for Rs 10,000. When Sita Ram refused, an argument erupted. In a fit of rage, he picked up a hammer and struck him on the head,” Chauhan said.
According to police, Prakash then dragged the body to the septic tank to conceal the crime and fled the scene.
The murder weapon was recovered from the farmhouse based on Prakash’s disclosure. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain if others were involved or had knowledge of the crime.
