Hindustan Times (Ranchi)

20 yrs on, ex-navyman who faked death held for murder of relative

THE ACCUSED HAD FAKED HIS DEATH TO EVADE ARREST IN A MURDER CASE AND TO CLAIM INSURANCE PAYOUT FOR HIS TRUCK

- Dinesh Bothra letters@hindustant­imes.com

A retired Indian Navy personnel from Delhi who had reportedly faked his death 20 years ago in Jodhpur, to evade arrest for allegedly murdering his brother-in-law and to secure an insurance payout for the truck, has been found alive and has been apprehende­d, said the police on Monday.

The incident, which had taken place on May 1, 2004 on Dangiyawas Bypass in Jodhpur, came to the fore when the accused was arrested in a fraud case by the Delhi crime branch last year and during the subsequent interrogat­ion revealed about his crimes and the cover up, said an official.

The accused identified as Balesh Soni (61) along with the help of his family members had concocted the narrative of his death, said the police. The police have now booked 10 people including Soni and his family members for setting ablaze two unidentifi­ed people in the truck.

Sub inspector Manoj Kumar from Dangiyawas police station who initiated the case after an initial inquiry said: “On the morning of May 1, 2004, a truck laden with cardboard caught fire on Dangiyawas Bypass, resulting in the demise of the driver and the helper. On May 2, Chandrabha­n Soni, a resident of Uttam Nagar in Delhi, identified one of the bodies as that of his soncum-driver Balesh Soni, and the other as that of his helper.”

“In their statements to the police at the time, Chandrabha­n along with his family confirmed that Balesh was indeed the deceased.” Last year on October 3, assistant sub inspector Yashpal Singh Tomar from the Delhi crime branch dispatched a letter to Dangiyawas police station, indicating the arrest of Balesh Soni in a fraud case filed on September 29, 2023. During the course of probe, however, it was disclosed that Balesh Soni, along with his family, had fabricated the “narrative of his own immolation two decades ago”, said an official. According to the police, upon receiving informatio­n from the crime branch, investigat­ing officer Manoj Kumar went to Delhi, where he interrogat­ed Balesh Kumar, and later his family members. “They confessed to conspiring Balesh’s fake death by fire to cover up his crime and claim the truck insurance,” said the official.

An official providing the details of the murder committed by Balesh said “the accused’s sister-in-law was allegedly having extramarit­al relationsh­ip with his brother-in-law.” Upon discoverin­g this, “Balesh and his brother Sunder Lal purportedl­y murdered the brother-in-law, Khushi Ram, on April 20, 2004, resulting in a case being registered at Bawana police station in Delhi,” said the official. Balesh and Sunder Lal were incriminat­ed in the police investigat­ion. While Sundar Lal was arrested, no action was taken against Balesh as the authoritie­s were informed about his death in the fire incident.

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