KOLKATA: After one of the rare detections in a double murder case at a hotel in Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road near Park Street, the sleuths of anti-homicide squad say they might have a serial killer in their hands who not only made a profession by drugging and cheating people, but even “experimenting” with the various methods and tool that can be employed to commit the “perfect murder.”
Investigators have come to know that the accused Ajay Pandit (24) had indeed also murdered his brother-in-law Pancham Pandit just days before June 30 when he murdered his wife Komal (22) and his sister-in-law’s daughter Nandini Pandit (8).
However, they are not sure where he committed it.
“Ajay had initially told us that Pancham had left for Delhi two months ago. Later, he changed his statement to inform us that he killed his brother-in-law in Ranchi. But now, in a new statement, he has claimed that he killed him at a hotel room in Burdwan,” said a top investigating officer from the homicide squad of detective department.
The cops though face a peculiar problem even after the revelation that has led to questions if the victim indeed is Pancham as claimed by Ajay or a fourth person whose identity is yet to be established. “The photo of the victim taken by Burdwan police from the hotel room apparently does not match the face of Pancham. At least, that is what his family claims. Neither is the victim’s family too eager to pursue the case. Yet, every detail provided by Ajay to us regarding this murder matches with the findings of Burdwan police. This includes the manner in which a piece of Gamchha was used to throttle him and the exact in which the victim was found in the room,” said the officer.
Sources say the accused had set out for Kolkata along with Komal, Nandini and Pancham. They first reached Asansol where Komal and Nandini put up in a different hotel. The accused drugged Pancham while sharing g a drink and killed him. The next morning, he claimed that Pancham had to return to Jasidih on important work and that it was important they reached Kolkata on time. They thus took a bus to Kolkata from Asansol.
Joint CP (crime) Pallab Kanti Ghosh said that the accused had used a fake voter ID – just like Kolkata – to check in to the Burdwan hotel. “We have found that he was involved in at least 25 cases of drugging in which Ajay was involved. He is continuing to mislead us even after a week in our custody,” said Ghosh.
The cops said the accused Ajay has claimed that he was “inspired” by south Indian films. “He claimed that he was a fan of B-grade south Indian movies. It was there that he got the idea of electrocuting his victims,” said a senior officer.
Police said that they are yet to give clean chit to Ajay’s sister-in-law Pratima in the double murder. “Our team will be going back to Jasidih to question Pratima. We will ask her what she has done to try and trace her husband who has been missing for the past two months,” said an officer.
Though a Patna resident, he married Komal thinking that he would get a part of the property. “But he came to know that it was his sister-in-law Pratima who was getting the king’s share as she was the elder one. It was then that he stuck an illicit relationship with Pratima claiming he was in love with her,” said a source. Cops say Pratima’s brother Pancham was asked to join his family in Jasidih but then he disappeared mysteriously around the month of April. Sources said the accused had also drawn up elaborate arrangements to murder even Komal for which “preparations” was at an advanced stage.