Shahdara double murder: Couple’s former caretaker arrested from Rajasthan after 500-km chase

Virender Kumar Bansal (left) and Parvesh Bansal. (Express)

Days after an elderly couple were killed and robbed of their gold jewellery at their house in East Delhi’s Shahdara, a former caretaker of the family was arrested from Rajasthan in connection with the case, following a 500-km interstate chase, police said.

On Tuesday, The Indian Express had reported that the accused was identified as Ashok Kumar Sen, and that a manhunt had been initiated in Rajasthan to arrest him.

Sen, a resident of Laxmi Park, Nangloi, was arrested from Tapiplya village in Rajasthan’s Sikar, Joint CP Madhur Verma stated.

Virender Kumar Bansal (75), a retired teacher, and his wife Parvesh Bansal (65) were found dead by their son, Vaibhav (28), around midnight on Saturday at their home in Mansarovar Park’s Ram Nagar Extension, according to police.

Investigation revealed that the couple had employed two caretakers to tend to their ailments.

According to police, when officers contacted Sen’s wife, she said that he had gone on pilgrimage without his mobile phone, raising suspicion. “Soon, a team visited Sen’s residence in Nangloi. His photograph matched the suspect’s physical build in CCTV footage, and technical analysis revealed his location in Sikar,” an officer said.

During questioning, Sen told police that he worked as the couple’s caretaker and knew that Parvesh wore gold jewellery regularly, officers added.

“To make quick money, he hatched a conspiracy to rob them. He shifted residence prior to the incident, ensured movement through blind spots, and gained entry taking advantage of the son’s absence and his familiarity as ex-caretaker. He robbed the gold jewellery, murdered the couple, and fled to Rajasthan without carrying any mobile phone to evade arrest,” DCP Verma stated.

Police recovered gold jewellery, including a chain, one mangalsutra, two kangans, a ring, and a locket, officers said. Further investigation is underway.