Shashi Rai. Telegraph picture

Ranchi, April 2: Shashi Rai, an aspiring airhostess murdered in a guest house of New Delhi on March 29, had several “male friends” and Ashish Nandwana was one among them, the Delhi police said on Wednesday.

Ashish was jealous of her friends and this drove him to commit the murder. The accused, along with his cousin Manoj Kumar Nandwana, confessed to the crime. They have been sent to jail after being produced in the court.

“The accused wanted to marry Shashi and had proposed to her several times. He would get very angry because of her several male friends. On the fateful night when Ashish questioned her about her male friends, the two had a serious argument which led to the murder of the victim,” said H.G.S. Dhaliwal, DCP, South Delhi while speaking to The Telegraph over the phone.

A press communiqué sent by the DCP’s office to The Telegraph said the accused was also very possessive and did not like Shashi befriending other men.

Investigating officer Suresh Kaushik said that Shashi was a modern girl and liked to frequent night clubs in Jaipur. It was at one such night club that she had met Ashish.

“They were in love and Ashish wanted to marry her. But she did not give him a clear answer as he was both an alcoholic and unemployed,” said the press release.

Shashi, however, continued with her friendship with other men while she courted Ashish.

The Delhi police said that after an intensive local inquiry, it was found that the victim, along with her friends, had come to Delhi on March 28 and had booked two rooms in the Central Guest House at Basti Nizamuddin.

“When we checked Room 232, we found blood all over the room — especially on the bed and walls,” said Dhaliwal.

The Delhi police also said on March 28 Ashish, his cousin Manoj, and friend Savi, left from Jaipur to Delhi in an Indica. Shashi joined them on the way at Bahrore and they reached Delhi at midnight.

Here they met Shashi’s friends, who arranged two rooms for them in the guest house. Shashi and Ashish stayed in Room 232 while Manoj and Savi checked into Room 233.

Shashi’s parents reached here late evening after performing their daughter’s last rites in Delhi.

Pramod Kumar Rai, Shashi’s father, who is a criminal lawyer by profession, has sought a life sentence for his daughter’s killers.

“They have both been arrested and would be punished. I will pursue the case on my own and ensure that they get a life sentence,” he said.