The sister-in-law of trader Mukesh Shaw who was found dead in front of his Bansdroni house on the southern fringes of Kolkata last week has been arrested for her alleged involvement in the murder.
A friend of the woman’s who allegedly helped execute the murder and then fled to Bihar has also been arrested.
Lalita Shaw, 26, and her friend Rajiv Kumar, 24, have been charged with murder and common intention.
Mukesh had apparently come to know about an alleged illicit relationship between Rajiv and Lalita and was allegedly blackmailing her, Lalita has told the police.
“Lalita had opened the main gate and allowed Rajiv to enter their home. We are investigating if the victim’s brother Sanjay Shaw (Lalita’s husband) was involved in any way,” an investigator said.
The brothers and their families lived in the same house.
Sanjay was interrogated at Bansdroni police station till late on Monday.
It was clear from the marks of altercation and blood stains in the room that the murder was committed inside the house even though the body was found outside the house, the officer added.
Mukesh, dead, was found holding a chopper in his right hand when the cops arrived at the spot hours later.
The police said from the way it was being held, it was clear to them that the assassin had placed the chopper in the deceased man’s hand after killing him.
An investigator said initially, Lalita had claimed ignorance and there was no direct evidence to suggest her involvement. But a few days later, she apparently contacted Rajiv on the phone and told him that the police were “no longer suspecting her”.
Cops tracked down Rajiv through the phone call and arrested him in Bihar’s Banka district.
Lalita confessed to the crime on Monday, the police said. She and Rajiv were produced in court in the afternoon.