A 28-year-old man and his accomplice have been arrested in connection with the murder of the former's live-in partner almost nine years back, police said today.
Bijender was in a live-in relationship with Aarti. He killed Aarti in 2008 following an argument over persuading her to not to stay in touch with her family. Rahul (30) allegedly helped him in dumping the body after crushing her face, DCP Crime(Cyber and FICN) Bhisham Singh said.
A day after Aarti went missing, the accused had approached her parents and told them that she has left his house with someone else, the police officer said.
"The accused also asked her parents to lodge a complaint with police. He, however, accompanied them to lodge a missing report in Sultanpuri Police Station. The duty officer asked them to bring Aarti's photo, but since they did not have it, they did not file a complaint," Singh said.
Aarti's body was recovered near a factory by the police in Najafgarh and a case of murder was registered. However, in 2010, the case was marked as 'untraced' as neither the deceased nor the accused could be identified.
After the murder, Bijender sold his house in Sultanpuri and started residing in Aman Vihar area and got married in October, 2009. He used to introduce his wife as Aarti so that nobody in the area would suspect him, the officer said.
In order to ensure that Aarti's parents never contact him or make efforts to find her, he even sent fake letters in the deceased's name to her parents. Bijender had forcibly got Aarti's signatures on blank papers before killing her, he said.
"In the letter, it was written that she has left Bijender and got married to the son of an advocate and is leading a happy life. In it, her parents were asked not to contact Bijender or her as she doesn't want any interference in her personal life," the DCP said.
It was also written that she is moving out of Delhi with her husband and she would remain in touch with them through letters. After receiving the letter, Aarti's family members were satisfied that she was living a better life.
For the last eight years, this case remained a blind case as neither the body had been identified nor the accused.
It was only after the Crime Branch received information about Rahul's involvement in dumping a body near Ply Factory, Najafgarh about nine years back that the mystery unravelled.
On Tuesday, Rahul was nabbed from near BDO Office, Najafgarh and he led police to Bijender who was arrested from Balbir Vihar in Kirari Suleman Nagar area, Singh said.
During interrogation it was revealed that in 2006, while he was living in Sultanpuri area, Bijender came in contact with Aarti. Two years later, she left her parents' house and started living Bijender, the DCP said.
After three-four months, a dispute arose between them and on the night of September 23, 2008, he strangulated her to death. Bijender then hired an auto and told the driver that his wife is possessed by evil powers and he is taking her to Najafgarh for exorcism, the officer said.
He took the body to Najafgarh along with his brother Joginder and called Rahul help in disposing of the body. Joginder will be interrogated for his involvement in the case, police said.
After Aarti left the house, her father remained in trauma and developed health problems. He died around three years back. Her mother is living with her two brothers in Sultanpuri area.
Bijender has three sons and has been working as a taxi driver in the area. He was even involved activities related to black magic, police said.
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