An elderly couple and their domestic worker were allegedly killed at their residence in Dehradun’s Raipur area on Tuesday, with police arresting a plumber who had been working at the house for the past two years.
Police said the incident followed a dispute over payment for plumbing work. The accused, identified as Rajkumar, had been called to the residence of 80-year-old Ramesh Chawla and his 75-year-old wife, Rajni Chawla, on Tuesday.
According to the preliminary investigation, the disagreement reportedly escalated after the work was completed. Police allege that Rajkumar attacked the couple with a screwdriver. Their domestic worker, 48-year-old Sheila, was also attacked when she intervened.
Neighbours discovered the three victims inside the house later in the afternoon and alerted the police. A police team reached the residence and with assistance from local residents, took the injured victims to a private hospital. Doctors subsequently declared all three dead.
Police said the accused was detained by local residents near the scene and was later taken into custody. Investigators have also recovered a screwdriver and a gold chain from his possession.
Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Dobhal said CCTV footage showed the accused arriving at the residence alone at around 1pm. Investigators are examining whether the initial dispute over payment escalated into an attempt to rob the occupants.
According to police, the accused may have returned to the house with the intention of committing a further offence after initially leaving the premises. The exact sequence of events is being established as part of the investigation.
A murder case has been registered at Raipur police station following a complaint from the family of one of the victims. Forensic teams and other investigators have examined the residence and collected evidence from the scene.
The incident has also drawn a political response. Police said the investigation remains underway, with CCTV footage, forensic evidence and other material being examined to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The allegations against the accused will be subject to the ongoing legal process
