A 54-year-old fashion designer and her domestic help were stabbed to death at her farmhouse in south-west Delhi’s Vasant Kunj Enclave at 10 pm on November 14, 2018. Three accused including the woman’s employee have been arrested, the police said on November 15, 2018.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-West) Devender Arya said that the victim identified as Mala Lakhani used to run a boutique and fabric store in Green Park. She was unmarried and used to stay with her domestic help Bahadur.
The victims were allegedly stabbed by Lakhani’s employee Rahul Anwar and his accomplices Rahmat and Wasim following a dispute over unpaid dues.
The arrest was made by the police after all the accused surrendered before the police at Vasant Kunj police station.
Upon interrogation, Rahul, a tailor by profession who used to mostly reside in Lakhani’s bungalow in the staff quarters and work from there, allegedly told the police that he had called the victim to the staff quarters on the pretext of showing her a piece he had stitched.
“When she came, Rehmat and Wasim were already present. They had planned the murder, they confessed. When Rahul asked Lakhani for money, she allegedly refused after which they caught hold of her and gagged her. Two of them stabbed her with knives,” said a senior police officer.
Later, Bahadur came there and the accused allegedly stabbed him as well.
“Both of them [victims] were stabbed in the throat about five-six times,” the officer said adding that the accused then fled in Lakhani’s car after robbing jewellery and bank cards.
The bodies have been preserved for post-mortem to be conducted on November 16, 2018, at Safdarjung Hospital mortuary.
Lakhani is survived by her sister Arti Sharma who resides with her family in Gurugram and a brother Gop Lakhani who lives in Goa.
