IPL bets, affairs, loans, lavish lifestyle: Killer 'son' emerges from shadows as Kanpur bizman murder case takes major twist

KANPUR: IPL betting, mounting loans, a lavish lifestyle and a fear that his father’s property could go to another woman — investigators say these strands came together in the alleged plot to kill 63-year-old pharmaceutical trader Vineet Minocha.Police have now arrested his 34-year-old son Subrat, alleging that he masterminded the conspiracy and hired two men to carry out the murder.Police alleged that Subrat had accumulated debts of more than Rs 40 lakh through gambling and IPL betting and was also involved in intoxicants.According to investigators, Subrat received around Rs 40,000 every month from his father for his expenses but was paying about Rs 55,000 a month towards loan instalments. Police said his father had become an obstacle to the lifestyle Subrat wanted to maintain.Another strand of the alleged motive was Vineet’s personal life. Police said Subrat feared that his father, who had strained relations with his current wife, might marry another woman and transfer his property to her. Vineet’s wife was staying with their daughter outside Uttar Pradesh, investigators said.Police alleged that Subrat therefore decided to get his father killed. According to investigators, the original plan was to make Vineet’s death appear accidental or natural, but it was later changed. Vishal Gautam, a former employee of Vineet, allegedly agreed to carry out the killing with the help of his associate Rajkishore.Vineet was stabbed 26 times at his Ratan Orbit apartment in Kanpur’s Kalyanpur area on September 5. Police said Vishal and Rajkishore entered the flat posing as medicine delivery men before attacking him and later escaped by scaling a wall.The two men were arrested shortly after the murder and subsequently named Vineet’s daughter-in-law Shalu Minocha as the alleged conspirator. Shalu was arrested along with them. Police had initially suspected that she had hired the killers for Rs 6 lakh.The investigation, however, took a different turn after police questioned the three accused during their 24-hour custody. Investigators said call records showed more than 300 conversations between Subrat and Vishal, the highest number among the contacts examined in the case.Police also found that Vishal had obtained a new SIM card on September 3, two days before the murder, and allegedly made his first call from the new number to Subrat. Investigators also recovered deleted chats between the two and said their locations had coincided at several points before the killing.Police alleged that Subrat and Vishal had attempted to divert suspicion towards Shalu. Vishal reportedly told investigators that Subrat had asked him to kill his father and promised him Rs 6 lakh. He also allegedly claimed that Subrat had instructed him to name Shalu if the conspiracy was uncovered.Police are verifying these allegations through call records, digital evidence and other material. Commissioner of police Raghubir Lal said Subrat had not confessed to the murder and that all scientific, digital, CCTV, call-detail and circumstantial evidence would be independently scrutinised.The latest developments have also put Shalu’s alleged role under fresh scrutiny. Police said they had so far not found sufficient corroborative evidence establishing her involvement, though she has not been given a clean chit.“Whether she is complicit or not will be decided by the court,” a senior police officer said.Investigators have also recovered a duplicate key to Vineet’s flat from Vishal. Police said blood-stained clothes allegedly worn during the crime were recovered from a spot near Kanpur railway station.Police said the probe report submitted before the court would incorporate the latest findings and evidence gathered during the investigation.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kanpur | Silver Rate in Kanpur | Bank Holidays in Kanpur | Public Holidays in Kanpur | Kanpur AQI | Weather in Kanpur | Petrol Price in Kanpur | Diesel Price in Kanpur | CNG Price in Kanpur | LPG Price in KanpurStay updated with the latest Kanpur news. Download the TOI App.