NEW DELHI: A 35-year-old man was stabbed while sleeping beside his young daughter at his home in Ghaziabad on Monday (Oct 26), allegedly by his wife’s lover, a gym trainer.
CCTV footage has now emerged showing the sequence of events before and after the attack.
Police suspect that the woman and the trainer planned the attack following a dispute over her husband’s decision to move out of their home.
CCTV footage shows sequence of events
According to the TOI, the CCTV footage, recorded on Oct 26, shows Priya leaving her house around 5.17am and driving away in her car.
About three minutes later, at 5.20am, her alleged lover, Pratap Singh, a gym trainer, is seen entering the house.
Singh allegedly attacked Shashank Kanthariya while he was sleeping beside his daughter. He is seen leaving the house around 5.23am.
A resident who was out for a morning walk noticed Singh and chased him with the help of a security guard.
Other residents also joined the chase. According to neighbours, Singh initially told them that nothing had happened.
He was eventually caught near the society’s main gate with the help of two men on motorcycles and a security guard.
A resident, identified as M T Joshi, reportedly noticed blood on Singh’s hands and tried to stop him.
Singh allegedly pushed him aside and continued running before being caught.
At around 5.25am, another neighbour is seen looking through a window and calling out to Shashank.
By 5.42am, several neighbours and local residents had gathered near the house.
Husband discovered alleged affair in September
Shashank, a senior accountant with the Delhi government, was rushed to a nearby hospital after the attack.
He remains in the intensive care unit (ICU). His daughter woke up during the assault and began crying but escaped without injuries.
According to ACP (Indirapuram) Suryabali Maurya, Pratap started working at the gym Priya attended in Vasundhara in January this year. The two allegedly entered into a relationship the following month.
Police said Shashank learnt about the alleged affair towards the end of September and confronted his wife.
He reportedly asked her to end the relationship and either change gyms or stop attending the gym where Singh worked.
Investigators suspect that tensions increased after Shashank decided to move out of their home and started looking for a house in Delhi.
He reportedly planned to finalise a property on Sunday, but Priya allegedly opposed the move.
Police suspect that Priya informed Singh about her husband’s plans and that the two conspired to kill him.
Wife, gym trainer arrested
Police said Priya usually left home around 5am to go to the gym, leaving the front door unlocked while her husband and daughter were asleep.
Investigators suspect that she followed the same routine on Monday, allowing Singh to enter the house.
Singh allegedly carried two knives and attacked Shashank before fleeing. Police later recovered both knives from his possession.
Shashank’s brother, Ritesh, filed a complaint following the attack.
Police registered a case against Priya and Singh under Sections 109 (attempt to murder), 333 (house trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Both accused were arrested on Tuesday, produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody. - The Statesman/ANN
