Ex-Navy employee who faked his death following triple murder arrested after 20 years
PTC News Desk: A 60-year-old ex-Navy employee who faked his death for 20 years was arrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch on Tuesday for allegedly killing one of his relatives and burning two labourers to death.
According to police, Balesh Kumar was arrested at his home in Najafgarh where he was staying with his family after changing his name to Aman Singh.
In 2004, Balesh was 40 years old when he allegedly murdered his brother-in-law, Rajesh alias Khushiram, over money in Delhi's Bawana neighbourhood. He was also accused of having an illicit relationship with Rajesh's wife.
Police arrested Balesh's brother Sundar Lal in 2004, who was also involved in Rajesh's murder, but Balesh managed to elude them.
According to Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav, Balesh, who was in the transport business at the time, fled to Rajasthan in a truck.
He set fire to his truck and killed two of his employees.
"Rajasthan Police during the course of investigation identified one of the persons as Balesh, while the other body remained unclaimed. The family members of Balesh also identified one of the bodies as his," Yadav added.
Rajasthan Police closed the case on the grounds that the main suspect had died.
Balesh escaped to Punjab after faking his death, where he obtained fake identity proof with the help of family members and changed his name to Aman Singh.
"He remained in touch with his wife and managed to transfer his insurance claim benefits and pension from the Indian Navy to her. Also, the truck involved in the incident was registered in the name of his brother Mahinder Singh, who allowed him to claim the insurance. He got an insurance claim for the truck into the account of his wife," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ankit Kumar further said.
Balesh then relocated to Najafgarh in Delhi with his family and began living with them.
"On a secret tip-off, we managed to nab him from his house on Monday. During the interrogation, he confessed his involvement in the murder of his relative and two labourers from Bihar," Kumar stated.
The Delhi Police informed its counterpart in Rajasthan's Jodhpur of Balesh's arrest and urged that the burnt truck case be reopened.
According to the Delhi Police, Balesh stole antique artefacts from Delhi's Kota House in 2000 and was arrested for theft at Tilak Marg Police Station.
Police are investigating Balesh's wife and other family members' involvement in his crimes, and they will all face charges accordingly, the official said.
- With inputs from agencies
