Kanpur millionaire's son under scanner in father's murder, got 6 calls from killer

The investigation into the murder of Kanpur-based pharmaceutical trader Vineet Manocha has widened after police found that his son Subrat and the killer Vishal Gautam spoke 6 times in the days leading up to the September 5 murder. The phone records have led to the police now examining whether Subrat was involved in the crime in which his wife, Shalu, has been arrested.

Shalu is accused of plotting the murder of Vineert Manocha and hiring Vishal and another person to carry out the crime. Police have previously said that financial restrictions imposed by Vishal Minocha on his son and daughter-in-law may have possibly motivated the murder conspiracy.

Providing an update on the investigation, Kanpur Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal said that Vishal bought a new SIM card on September 3, two days before Manocha was killed. The new number was subsequently used to contact both Manocha’s daughter-in-law Shalu and Subrat.

“If Shalu planned the murder, hatched the conspiracy and Vishal purchased a new number for the crime, the question is why calls were made from that number to Subrat,” Lal told news agency PTI, adding that investigators were looking into Subrat’s possible role.

Police have obtained call detail records of seven mobile numbers linked to Subrat, Shalu and Vishal.

The records, covering May 1 to September 6, run into around 1,000 pages of transcript and are being analysed to establish the nature and frequency of communication before and after the murder.

Manocha, 60, who ran a pharmaceutical firm on Birhana Road with his son, was stabbed to death in the early hours of September 5. Shalu, Vishal and Raj Kishore have been arrested and are currently in jail in connection with the case.

Vishal had previously worked for Manocha but was removed over an alleged theft. Despite this, police said, he remained in contact with Subrat.

As part of the probe, Kalyanpur SHO Keshav Tiwari questioned Shalu and Vishal in jail on Tuesday after securing court permission.

More than 30 questions were put to them about the conspiracy, their communications and their activities before and after the murder.

While Shalu denied planning the murder, police said Vishal allegedly told investigators that he killed Manocha at her behest. He claimed she had promised him Rs 6 lakh and a job.

Police have also sought custody remand of Shalu and Vishal. Lal said the remand was likely to be granted within two days, after which investigators could cross-question Subrat with the two accused.

Investigators are also matching the accused’s statements with CCTV footage, including Subrat’s account of how he identified Vishal as the person who entered the premises.

Meanwhile, police are also separately tracing Vishal’s movements after the murder.

He called his associate Raj Kishore five times and travelled to his hideout in an Uber cab. Investigators are examining the cab route, the driver’s statement and digital payment records.

Police Commissioner Lal also denied reports that Shalu had searched online for ways to kill someone and make the death appear to be suicide or a heart attack, calling the claim a rumour. Police are, however, examining digital evidence from her phone.

Shalu’s lawyer Shivakant Dixit has questioned the handling of her seized phone, claiming its Instagram account showed activity at 10.03 am on September 6.

He also sought an inquiry into Subrat’s reported visit to a bank on the night of the murder.

The probe has also expanded to Manocha’s properties and financial affairs. Lal said a registered will made in 2022 left his properties to his wife Punita, Subrat and daughter Shubhani.