Youth held for murder of employer’s wife

LUCKNOW: The 52-year-old wife of a city hardware trader who was found murdered in her house in Rajendra Nagar area in Naka on January 20, was allegedly murdered by an employee of her husband’s shop with a motive of loot.

The trader’s family did not suspect the accused as he was present with them even after the victim, Veena Malhotra’s death and actively participated in her last rites.

Cops arrested him on Tuesday after getting substantial evidences against him.

ASP (West) Vikas Chandra Tripathi said the accused, Laxmi Kant Goswami, used to work at the hardware shop of Rajeev Malhotra for last four years. He said Goswami planned the loot after coming to know that his employer had recently received ₹25 lakh from somewhere.

“On February 20, Goswami visited Rajeev’s house after finding the shop closed. He sneaked into the house and hid himself after finding Rajeev and Veena at home,” the ASP said.

Goswami came out believing that Rajeev had left for the shop and his wife had left for her office. However, Veena was present in the house and spotted Goswami.

“Initially, Goswami tried to mislead her by stating that he had come to meet Rajeev. He attacked her when she tried calling her husband to complaint about the accused entering the house secretly,” said the ASP.

He added, “Goswami stabbed Veena in neck with a kitchen knife and also slit her wrist to ensure her death. Thereafter, he fled from the crime scene.”