Kolkata: The domestic help of the Agarwal family of Malda district has been arrested on suspicion of committing the gruesome triple murder, a senior CID official said today.
Nirmal Singh (24), the domestic help in the family, was arrested for killing businessman Ram Ratan Agarwal, his wife Manju and caretaker Ganesh Ram at their residence near NH 34 in the Englishbazar area last Friday.
He was picked up by the CID from his sister’s residence, 3 km away from the Agarwal’s in the Englishbazar area, CID DIG (Operations) Dilip Kumar Adak told a press conference here.
“Nirmal has admitted to committing the crime, but we are still not sure whether he has done it alone or there was somebody with him,” Adak said.
The CID officer said that it was a revenge crime after the Agarwals had dismissed him six months ago because he had stolen money and other valuables from them.
“He was quite arrogant and was caught for stealing things. He used to argue with Manju Agarwal a lot and even threatened her with consequences,” he said.
“The CCTV footage showed that a person with his head covered with cloth and wearing a tight trouser with a bag entering the Agarwal residence at around 11.15 PM. It also showed the person coming out at 1.02.58AM,” he said.
Nirmal had stolen all the ornaments Manju was wearing, but he could not open the almirahs and steal the cash, he said.
CID DIG (Special) Tapas Kumar Das said that the three daughters, one married and the youngest one studying fashion designing in a city-based college were not present and Nirmal knew it.
The video footage showed Ram Ratan Agarwal returning home on his bike and trying to call somebody when nobody from inside his residence opened the door after he pressed the calling bell.
“Then Ram Ratan went inside through the garage and that was when Nirmal hit him with a blunt object before slitting his throat,” Das said.
During questioning, Nirmal was fumbling with his answers and faltered at times and finally admitted to his crime, Das said.