4 arrested in Delhi realtor's death, cops cite dispute over 'illegal' construction

Delhi Police have arrested four people, including a man, his wife and their two sons, a day after a 42-year-old property dealer was allegedly beaten to death during a dispute linked to construction work at a building in southeast Delhi's Kalkaji.

The deceased, Manjeet Singh alias Bunty, was allegedly assaulted during a confrontation on the intervening night of September 19 and 20. Police said another accused in the case is absconding, and teams are carrying out raids to trace him.

According to police and sources, the dispute began over construction of a chhajja, or balcony extension, at the building. Tension between the two sides allegedly grew after the Municipal Corporation of Delhi pasted a notice at the building over the unauthorised construction.

Police sources said Manjeet, who lived with his family in a flat in Kalkaji and worked as a property dealer, was involved in getting the construction work done. The ground floor of the building housed an office of Surya Building Construction Company, which Manjeet and other property dealers frequently visited.

The construction work at the balcony allegedly became a source of disagreement between Manjeet and the other side. Sources said the dispute intensified after the MCD action, following which the two sides allegedly confronted each other. Police said an argument between residents of the ground and third floors later turned into a physical altercation.

Manjeet and his younger brother Dilbag Singh were injured in the confrontation and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre. Manjeet was declared dead at the hospital, while Dilbag was later discharged. Family members had earlier alleged that several people surrounded Manjeet and assaulted him during the confrontation.

Dilbag told police that he received information about the assault and reached the spot with his sister. He allegedly found Manjeet lying unconscious on the road outside the building. According to the family, Dilbag was also allegedly assaulted when he tried to intervene.

Police had initially detained three people, including two women, and registered a case of culpable homicide. After further investigation, they arrested Rajendra Singh alias Rajji, his wife and their two sons. Officials said efforts were continuing to identify and arrest the other person allegedly involved.

Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the building and nearby areas to establish the sequence of events and the role of each person present during the confrontation. Police said the footage was being scrutinised to understand how the argument over the construction escalated into the alleged assault and to identify the accused who remains at large. Sources said the MCD notice pasted on the building is also being examined as part of the probe.

Police are questioning the arrested accused and recording statements of family members, residents and other witnesses to piece together the events leading to Manjeet's death. A senior police officer said the exact circumstances in which Manjeet suffered the fatal injuries would also be established through the post-mortem examination and other evidence collected during the investigation.

Meanwhile, senior officers have taken action against two policemen for alleged lapses in handling the matter. The beat officer and the duty officer concerned have been sent to the lines.