Kanpur Police: Subrat Manocha Murder Investigation Broadens To Son

• The Kanpur Subrat Manocha murder investigation has expanded to include the victim's son, Subrat, following the discovery of extensive call logs with the alleged shooter, Vishal Gautam.
• Police found 309 calls between Subrat and Vishal, alongside six calls from a new SIM bought by Vishal two days before the murder, which was also used to contact the daughter-in-law, Shalu.
• Vishal Gautam, a former employee of the victim's firm, claims he committed the murder at Shalu's instruction, who allegedly promised him Rs 6 lakh and a job.
• Authorities are analyzing nearly a thousand pages of call detail records and plan to cross-question Subrat in the presence of the arrested accused after securing custody remand.
• Further investigative steps include cross-referencing statements with CCTV footage, tracing Vishal's post-murder movements via an Uber cab, and examining digital evidence from Shalu's phone, despite a lawyer's concerns about its handling.

The ongoing Kanpur Subrat Manocha murder investigation has significantly broadened its scope, now intensely scrutinizing the role of the victim's son, Subrat, following the discovery of extensive communication between him and the alleged shooter.

The ongoing Kanpur Subrat Manocha murder investigation has significantly broadened its scope, now intensely scrutinizing the role of the victim's son, Subrat, following the discovery of extensive communication between him and the alleged shooter. Vineet Manocha, a 60-year-old pharmaceutical trader who operated a prominent business on Birhana Road alongside his son, was tragically stabbed to death in the early hours of September 5.

Initially, authorities arrested Manocha's daughter-in-law, Shalu, along with Vishal Gautam, identified as the shooter, and an associate named Raj Kishore. All three are currently held in jail. Vishal Gautam had a prior connection to the victim's firm, having been employed there before his dismissal due to allegations of theft. Despite this termination, police reports indicate that Vishal maintained contact with Subrat in the period leading up to the murder.

A pivotal development in the case emerged with the revelation of 309 phone calls exchanged between Subrat and Vishal Gautam between May 1 and September 5, the night of the killing. Further raising suspicions, Vishal reportedly made six calls to Subrat from a newly acquired SIM card in the days immediately preceding the murder. Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal confirmed that Vishal purchased this SIM on September 3, just two days before the incident, and that the number was subsequently used to contact both Subrat and Shalu. Commissioner Lal highlighted the investigative puzzle: if Shalu orchestrated the murder and Vishal procured a new number for the crime, the continued calls from that number to Subrat warrant close examination, confirming Subrat's potential involvement is now under active review.

In a comprehensive effort to map communication patterns, Kanpur police have obtained nearly a thousand pages of call detail records (CDRs) for seven mobile numbers linked to Subrat, Shalu, and Vishal. These records span from May 1 to September 6 and are being meticulously analyzed to understand the frequency and nature of their interactions both before and after Vineet Manocha's death. Kalyanpur Station House Officer Keshav Tiwari has already questioned Shalu and Vishal in jail, with court permission, posing over thirty questions concerning the alleged conspiracy, their communications, and their movements. While Shalu has consistently denied any involvement in planning the murder, Vishal has reportedly told investigators that he carried out the killing at her behest, claiming she promised him a payment of Rs 6 lakh and a job in return.

Authorities have formally sought custody remand for both Shalu and Vishal. The remand plea was stalled by a lawyers' strike, and the hearing was deferred to September 19. Securing this remand is crucial, as investigators plan to cross-question Subrat in the presence of the two accused, aiming to reconcile conflicting statements and uncover further details. Beyond the direct interrogations, the investigation is employing multiple avenues to corroborate evidence.

Police are cross-referencing statements from the accused against available CCTV footage, including Subrat's own account of how he identified Vishal as the individual who entered the premises on the night of the murder. Furthermore, investigators are independently tracing Vishal's movements immediately following the crime; he reportedly made five calls to his associate Raj Kishore and traveled to a hideout via an Uber cab. This has led to an examination of the cab's route, the recording of the driver's statement, and a thorough scrutiny of the digital payment trail associated with the ride. Commissioner Lal also addressed and dismissed as rumor reports that Shalu had searched online for methods to stage a death as a suicide or heart attack, though digital evidence from her phone remains under examination. Separately, Shalu's lawyer, Shivakant Dixit, has raised concerns regarding the handling of her seized phone, noting Instagram activity at 10:03 am on September 6, after she had already been taken into custody.

Source: Original reporting via Times Now