New Delhi, February 9 Police investigating the "suicide pact" case in Peeragarhi have identified the man who was seen in CCTV footage sitting in the car dressed as a mystic before three people were found dead inside the vehicle. Authorities are hopeful that he is the key to solving this mysterious case.
Police are now investigating the role of the man, who allegedly met with the three individuals on the day of the incident, and was also seen in the car. Forensic and post-mortem reports are awaited to determine the exact cause of death.
According to police, a PCR call was received around 3:50 pm on Sunday, reporting that three people were sitting inside a locked car and were unresponsive. A police team rushed to the spot near the Peeragarhi flyover, where all three occupants were found dead.
The car had been stationary at the spot for about 50 minutes before the PCR call was made.
The deceased have been identified as Randhir (76) and Shiv Naresh Singh (47), both residents of Baprola, and Laxmi Devi (40), a resident of Jahangirpuri and originally from Bihar.
Randhir was found sitting in the driver's seat, while Naresh and Laxmi were sitting in the back seat of the car, officials said. The vehicle belonged to Randhir.
While initial clues suggested a possible suicide, with reports indicating that the three individuals may have consumed poison-laced soft drinks, police are now investigating other angles, including the role of the man dressed as a mystic.
"The 'baba' was seen sitting in the front passenger seat of the car earlier in the day and had interacted with all three, making him a crucial link in the investigation. He was also in frequent contact with them in the past," a police source said.
Police have brought the 'baba' and another individual in for questioning, and investigators are trying to establish the nature of his relationship with the deceased.
The relationship between Laxmi Devi and the two men has further complicated the case. Police said Randhir and Naresh had known each other for the past six years and were partners in property-related work. Both families are also familiar with each other.
However, Laxmi Devi was not known to any of the families of the two men.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that Naresh and Laxmi were acquainted, and that all three victims were in close contact with the 'baba', meeting him multiple times in the past, police said.
Investigators are examining whether the deaths occurred due to poisoning or if any foul play was involved.
"Prima facie, the deaths appear to have occurred due to poison intake, but the exact cause will only be clear after the forensic analysis and post-mortem reports arrive," an officer said.
Police said Randhir had left his house around 9:30 am on the day of the incident. He later picked up Naresh, who parked his motorcycle at Randhir’s residence and accompanied him in the car. The motorcycle was found parked there even after the incident came to light, police said.
The mobile phones of all three deceased have been seized, and their call records, messages, and chats are being scrutinized. CCTV footage along the route taken by the car is also being examined to reconstruct the sequence of events, police added.
Meanwhile, Randhir's family has rejected any suicide angle, saying he was a cheerful person with no apparent reason to take such an extreme step.
Randhir is survived by his wife, four daughters, and grandchildren. His son had died around 20 years ago, and his daughter-in-law and grandchild live with the family. One of his daughters is a widow and also resides with him.
Speaking to reporters, Randhir's daughter Savita said he had left home in a normal state, as he did every day. "He was absolutely fine when he left. Sometimes he would go out, and at other times he would stay at home and look after things."
"When I spoke to him on the phone, he said he was at his agricultural field and would return later. There were no signs of any problem. I had seen my father speaking to Naresh earlier, but I had never met the woman. My father had no enmity with anyone. We do not believe this is a case of suicide,” she said.
A cousin of Randhir said he had met him on the road around 9:30 am on the day of the incident. "He told me he was going out for some work, but did not mention where. He was a very nice man and had no enmity with anyone. I don’t think he would have committed suicide," he said.
Another relative, Harish Kumar, said the family came to know about the incident only after the police reached their house around 5 pm.
"We were then called to the police station and informed that he was found dead in a car along with two others. Naresh was known to the family as they were doing business together, but we don’t know anything about the woman. We don’t believe it is a suicide because he was always happy and had no financial stress," he said.
He added that Randhir lived with his wife, daughters, and grandchildren and had participated in pre-marriage rituals of his grandchild, just four days before the incident, and the wedding was scheduled for March. "We have no suspicion against anyone, but we are certain he would not have taken his own life," he said.
