Wife, Lover Arrested for Murder of Builder in South Delhi's Ratiya Marg
South District police have arrested three people, including a 45-year-old woman and her 20-year-old lover, in connection with the murder of a 55-year-old small-time builder at his home on Ratiya Marg in south Delhi. The victim, Munna Lal, was allegedly killed on the night of August 9 by his wife, Manju, and her lover, Chaman, who then attempted to disguise the crime as a fatal burglary.
The incident came to light around 5 a.m. on August 10 when neighbors on Ratiya Marg awoke to an apparent robbery inside Lal's house. Responders found Lal lying in a pool of blood inside the ransacked residence, surrounded by open drawers and clothes strewn across the floor. Emergency responders rushed Lal to AIIMS, where he was declared brought dead.
Manju initially told officers that she found her husband's body in the morning and suspected intruders had entered through the terrace. However, forensic examination revealed that Lal had been drugged with sleeping pills, electrocuted on his private parts, repeatedly struck on the head and face with a heavy wooden stick, and strangled. Investigators also discovered faint streak marks on the floor, indicating an attempt to scrub away blood trails and wipe down evidence.
CCTV footage from neighboring lanes showed a masked figure entering the premises around 1:45 a.m. and leaving at approximately 3:15 a.m. The footage also captured suspicious, coordinated movements between a woman and an associate outside during the same period.
During questioning by a special team, police uncovered an alleged plot born out of infidelity, a bitter marriage, and Lal's refusal to provide money freely. Investigators alleged that Manju had promised Chaman Rs 5 lakh and long-term financial assistance to eliminate her husband, planning to live with him after the murder.
According to police, Manju spiked Lal's dinner with sleeping pills provided by Chaman. Once Lal became unconscious, the two rigged live electric wires to inflict shocks on his private parts, bludgeoned him with a wooden stick, and strangled him. Following the killing, Manju paid Chaman Rs 20,000 in cash before the pair ransacked the house to create the impression of a robbery.
A special team formed under Joint CP Vijay Kumar and DCP Anant Mittal solved the case. Police arrested Manju and Chaman, along with a third associate, Kishan, who allegedly helped harbour the accused. Officers recovered Rs 15,000 in cash during the arrests.
