Sonipat man missing for 40 days found dead; friends held over suspected Rs 18,000 theft
SONIPAT: The murder of a 35-year-old man from Sonipat, who had gone to Haridwar with two friends on August 1, came to light nearly 40 days later after his decomposed remains were recovered from beneath a culvert near the Panipat bypass in Gohana.
Police have arrested the victim's two friends, Vikram and Preetam, in connection with the murder. According to police, the two allegedly killed Vivek after Rs 18,000 belonging to Preetam went missing during their Haridwar trip and he suspected Vivek of stealing the money.
According to police, Vivek had gone to Haridwar with Vikram and Preetam on August 1. After returning, the two friends allegedly came to Vivek's house and took him along with them again.
His family waited for several days and tried to contact him on his mobile phone, but it was switched off. Suspecting that something was wrong, his uncle Sanjay approached police and lodged a missing-person complaint.
During the investigation, police suspicion fell on Vivek's two friends. Police detained Vikram and Preetam for questioning, during which they allegedly confessed to killing him.
Based on their disclosures, police searched the area where they claimed to have disposed of the body and recovered Vivek's remains from beneath a culvert near the Panipat bypass in Gohana.
The body had severely decomposed after remaining there for a prolonged period and had largely turned into skeletal remains.
ACP Rajpal Singh said the preliminary investigation suggested that the dispute began after Rs 18,000 belonging to Preetam went missing during the Haridwar trip.
Police suspect that Preetam believed Vivek had stolen the money. The suspicion reportedly led to an argument between the two, which eventually escalated into the murder.
According to police, Vikram and Preetam allegedly planned the killing and bought a knife for Rs 10 to carry out the attack.
The two allegedly took Vivek with them and attacked him with the knife, killing him. They then allegedly disposed of his body beneath a culvert near the Panipat bypass.
Vivek's younger brother Akshay told police that the murder was suspected to have taken place around August 2 or 3.
The condition of the remains made identification difficult. Police said an identity card found on the upper part of the remains helped establish that the body was that of Vivek.
The remains were sent for post-mortem examination to the hospital at BPS Government Medical College for Women, Khanpur Kalan.
Police said one of the arrested accused is from Rukhi village, while the other is from Bhatgaon. Both have been arrested and are likely to be produced before a court for custodial remand.
During remand, investigators are expected to question the accused about the alleged conspiracy, their individual roles in the murder and their movements before and after the crime. The investigation will also take into account the post-mortem findings.
Vivek, who was around 35, worked as a driver and supported his family financially. His family had spent several weeks searching for him before police recovered his remains.
Police have arrested the victim's two friends, Vikram and Preetam, in connection with the murder. According to police, the two allegedly killed Vivek after Rs 18,000 belonging to Preetam went missing during their Haridwar trip and he suspected Vivek of stealing the money.
According to police, Vivek had gone to Haridwar with Vikram and Preetam on August 1. After returning, the two friends allegedly came to Vivek's house and took him along with them again.
His family waited for several days and tried to contact him on his mobile phone, but it was switched off. Suspecting that something was wrong, his uncle Sanjay approached police and lodged a missing-person complaint.
During the investigation, police suspicion fell on Vivek's two friends. Police detained Vikram and Preetam for questioning, during which they allegedly confessed to killing him.
Based on their disclosures, police searched the area where they claimed to have disposed of the body and recovered Vivek's remains from beneath a culvert near the Panipat bypass in Gohana.
The body had severely decomposed after remaining there for a prolonged period and had largely turned into skeletal remains.
ACP Rajpal Singh said the preliminary investigation suggested that the dispute began after Rs 18,000 belonging to Preetam went missing during the Haridwar trip.
Police suspect that Preetam believed Vivek had stolen the money. The suspicion reportedly led to an argument between the two, which eventually escalated into the murder.
According to police, Vikram and Preetam allegedly planned the killing and bought a knife for Rs 10 to carry out the attack.
The two allegedly took Vivek with them and attacked him with the knife, killing him. They then allegedly disposed of his body beneath a culvert near the Panipat bypass.
Vivek's younger brother Akshay told police that the murder was suspected to have taken place around August 2 or 3.
The condition of the remains made identification difficult. Police said an identity card found on the upper part of the remains helped establish that the body was that of Vivek.
The remains were sent for post-mortem examination to the hospital at BPS Government Medical College for Women, Khanpur Kalan.
Police said one of the arrested accused is from Rukhi village, while the other is from Bhatgaon. Both have been arrested and are likely to be produced before a court for custodial remand.
During remand, investigators are expected to question the accused about the alleged conspiracy, their individual roles in the murder and their movements before and after the crime. The investigation will also take into account the post-mortem findings.
Vivek, who was around 35, worked as a driver and supported his family financially. His family had spent several weeks searching for him before police recovered his remains.
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