Boutique owner, help killed in S Delhi home
VASANT KUNJ Tailor, 2 accomplices stab victims to death, steal jewellery; turn themselves in
NEWDELHI: A boutique owner and her domestic help were stabbed to death in a sprawling Vasant Kunj Enclave bungalow late on Wednesday night by a tailor who worked for her, police said.
The 53-year-old woman, Mala Lakhani, who ran a shop in Green Park, lived alone in the two-storey house. Her 50-year-old help, Bahadur, also stayed on the premises.
The tailor, Rahul Anwar, who allegedly planned and executed the murder, was a regular at the Lakhani home because he stitched clothes designed by her. Police said that Anwar told them he killed Lakhani because she was rude to him and did not pay him regularly. The 25-year-old Anwar, who has a previous case of sexual assault on a minor against him, was allegedly helped in the murders by his aides Mohammad Rehmat and Wasim.
Rehmat, 20, is a painter, and Wasim,24, is also a tailor, police said.
The three surrendered at the Vasant Kunj South police station of their own accord within hours of the murders – perceptibly because they felt they would eventually be caught. It was only when they turned themselves in that the police came to know about the crimes.
According to the story pieced together by the police after the initial interrogations, Anwar met Rehmat and Wasim outside Lakhani’s house at around 10pm on Wednesday night.
“The three entered the house from the main gate and went to a workshop within the compound. Anwar then called Lakhani on the pretext of showing her some stitching work,” said an investigating officer who asked not to be named.