KOLKATA: Just two weeks after a mother-daughter duo was caught trying to dispose of a relative’s body in a trolley bag, Kolkata police have arrested two men attempting a similar crime. The accused were caught on Tuesday while transporting the body of their business partner in a trolley bag, intending to dump it in a pond on the city’s northern fringes.
Their plan was foiled by alert cab driver Rahul Adhikari, who not only dialed 100 but also tackled one of the suspects, preventing his escape. Police later recovered the body of Bhaguram Dewasi, a businessman from Rajasthan’s Burrabazar, from the trunk of the app cab on Kalyani Expressway, Sodepur-Ghola. The suspects, Krishna Pal Singh and Karan Singh, both in their early 30s, were arrested.
Murder Over Financial Dispute
Police revealed that Krishna and Karan, cousins from Rajasthan’s Pali Gaon, had been business partners with Dewasi in the garment trade. They had shared a rented flat in Girish Park for over four years, but financial disagreements led to the gruesome crime. Investigators suspect the murder was over an outstanding debt of ₹8 lakh.
According to police, the accused lured Dewasi to their residence on Muktaram Babu Street, where they poisoned his coffee. Once he lost consciousness, they strangled him and slit his throat, then tightly taped his face, throat, and hands to prevent blood from leaking. They stuffed his body into a trolley bag and set off to dispose of it.
How the Crime Unfolded
- After the murder on Monday night, the suspects continued working at their shop the next day, as CCTV footage revealed.
- Around 7:30 PM on Tuesday, one suspect left the flat with the suitcase in a taxi, heading to Nagerbazar.
- By 9:30 PM, they switched to another cab to Nimta, eventually taking a third app cab to Sodepur-Ghola, where they planned to dump the body.
- Their suspicious behavior and the heavy bag caught the attention of cab driver Rahul Adhikari, who questioned them.
- When they offered him a bribe, he became more suspicious, alerted the police, and physically restrained Karan as Krishna fled.
- Using Krishna’s mobile location, police tracked him down within hours.
Investigation and Ongoing Probe
Police recovered ₹65,000 in cash from the suspects. They are also questioning Ramesh Prajapati, who had rented the Muktaram Babu Street flat where the murder took place. Both Kolkata and Ghola police are collaborating on the investigation. However, a North 24-Parganas court has not yet allowed Kolkata police to take over the case.
Locals, shocked by the incident, recalled occasional arguments between the accused but never suspected anything serious. “I saw one of them carrying a large plastic bag on Tuesday evening, but I assumed it was garbage,” said neighbor Sujata Bairagi.
One of the accused has already confessed to the crime, citing the financial dispute as the motive. DCP Indra Badan Jha (Central, Barrackpore Police Commissionerate) praised the cab driver for his quick thinking, which helped crack the case before the body could be disposed of.
