Within a week, two sensational and high-profile murder cases emerged in India.
On January 3, reports surfaced regarding the murder of 27-year-old former model Divya Pahuja under suspicious circumstances at a hotel in Gurugram, Haryana. Three individuals, including the hotel manager, were arrested by the Gurugram Police, although Pahuja’s body is yet to be found.
In less than a week after the Gurugram incident, Suchana Seth, the CEO of Mindful AI Lab, was arrested in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district for alllegedly murdering her four-year-old son. She was nabbed while transporting her son’s body in a bag.
While the investigation into the Gurugram case is ongoing, the Goa Police, aided by the Karnataka Police, managed to solve the case within 24 hours.
THE DIVYA PAHUJA MURDER
Pahuja, who was reportedly slain Gurugram gangster Sandeep Gadoli’s girlfriend, was allegedly murdered under suspicious circumstances in Gurugram by Abhijeet Singh, the owner of City Point Hotel where the murder took place.
Abhijeet and two others were arrested by the Gurugram Crime Branch in connection with her death.
The BMW car, which was used to move Pahuja’s body from the Gurugram hotel, has been located in Punjab’s Patiala, but police are yet to find the body.
According to police, Abhijeet claimed that Divya was blackmailing him with explicit videos, leading to his alleged involvement in her murder. The police mentioned they were verifying Abhijeet’s claims, and further investigation was underway.
Pahuja awaited trial for seven years before the Bombay High Court granted her bail last year in connection with a case related to the alleged fake encounter of Gadoli.
THE GOA MURDER
The Goa murder came to light on Monday after the woman, Suchana Seth, was arrested by Karnataka Police with her son’s body.
In this case, police have shared chilling details. Seth, 39, allegedly murdered her son in a Goa hotel to prevent her estranged husband from meeting their son as part of visitation rights, sources told India Today.
Seth and her husband had filed for divorce, and she was reportedly unhappy with a court order allowing her estranged husband to meet their son every Sunday.
Suspicion arose when Goa hotel staff found red stains in Seth’s room, leading them to alert the local police. They contacted Seth’s taxi driver, and upon checking the luggage, the police found the child’s body. An FIR was registered, and Seth was arrested.
KEY DIFFERENCES
Gurugram case:
- Investigation ongoing, victim’s body not found.
- Arrests made, but crucial evidence, i.e., the victim’s body, remains missing.
- Alleged motives involve blackmail; ongoing efforts to verify claims and gather additional evidence.
Goa case:
- Accused arrested within 24 hours of the crime.
- Suspicions were raised due to red stains in the hotel room.
- Prompt action by hotel staff led to police involvement, arrest, and discovery of the victim’s body in the suspect’s possession.