New Delhi, Jul 3 (PTI) The Sewani family lived a peaceful life in the Lajpat Nagar area of southeast Delhi, running a clothing store called Kuldeep Garments in the busy main market, and Ruchika Sewani (42), a businesswoman and mother, managed the shop with her husband, often accompanied by their teenage son.
Ruchika and Kuldeep Sewani were polite and hardworking. They never troubled anyone, said Sunil Varma, one of their neighbours.
In an “act of revenge”, a 24-year-old man killed Ruchika Sewani and her 14-year-old son at their Lajpat Nagar residence, after the woman allegedly scolded him publicly for not repaying a loan of around Rs 40,000.
The accused, identified as Mukesh Kumar, worked as a helper at the Sewanis’ garment shop. He would also transport garment. A native of Bihar’s Hajipur, the accused was nabbed by the Uttar Pradesh Railway Police from a train while he was trying to flee, police said.
The incident came to light when a PCR call was received at 9:43 pm on Wednesday from Kuldeep Sewani, a resident of Lajpat Nagar-1.
He informed police that his wife and son were not answering his calls and that there were bloodstains on the staircase of their house.
“The horror that unfolded in their home on Wednesday night has left the entire block stunned,” another neighbour of the Sewanis, who requested anonymity, said.
One of the workers at the shop said Kumar was a trusted aide of the Sewanis.
“He was not just an employee, he was around all the time. Ruchika treated him like family,” said Rohan, a co-worker at the garment shop.
Kumar was one of the four employees at the store. He was living in Amar Colony with his father and elder brother for the last few years, helping manage the daily operations at the shop.
Police investigations have revealed that Kumar had taken leave for eight days to visit his village in Bihar for his engagement. However, he stayed away for 27 days and kept contacting the Sewanis for money during this period.
Before leaving, he had taken Rs 45,000 from the store’s owners.
“He came back briefly asking for more money and disappeared again. We had not expected this,” said Prem Sagar, another worker at the garment store.
Kumar’s frequent absences and repeated requests for financial help had started to worry his employers.
According to the co-workers, both Ruchika and Kuldeep Sewani had recently scolded Kumar and advised him to be more responsible. On Wednesday, Ruchika Sewani returned home from the shop around 7 pm. Police believe that between 7:30 pm and 8 pm, Kumar arrived unannounced at the Sewani residence and rang the bell. When the woman opened the door, he allegedly attacked her with a sharp weapon, slitting her throat.
Her teenage son, who was in the upper portion of the house, is believed to have heard the commotion and came running. The accused also allegedly stabbed him to death.
A police team rushed to the flat following the PCR call. Ruchika Sewani’s body was found in the bedroom and her son’s in the bathroom.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari, technical surveillance was used to track the accused, who was caught on board a train at Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction. He was attempting to flee to his home in Hajipur.
“He was upset over being scolded. Financial desperation could have added fuel to it,” another police officer, privy to the investigation, said.
Jangpura MLA Tarvinder Singh Marwah visited the area and condemned the killings.
Residents have demanded stricter verification of shop workers.
“You trust someone with your house, your children and this is what happens. It is terrifying,” said another resident who did not wish to be named. PTI COR BM RC
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