Brother arrested for plotting Shimla school executive murder over property dispute
In a twist to the Shimla school executive murder, the police arrested Manisha Mittal's younger brother for planning the crime via a middleman and hired shooters.
Himank Mittal in police custody for the murder of his sister (Express photo/Special arrangement). Seventeen days after the sensational murder of Manisha Mittal, 41, an executive at a prominent private school in Shimla, the police Tuesday arrested the victim’s younger brother and an accomplice. The two allegedly conspired to execute the contract killing using two hired shooters.
The prime accused has been identified as Himank Mittal, 31, the victim’s younger brother and chairman of the Saraswati Paradise International Public School in Sanjauli. The second arrested suspect is Gobind, who had reportedly fled to Thailand two days before the June 13 murder and returned to India last week.
According to the police, the two alleged shooters, Ashish Ahlawat, 22, and Deepak Budhwal, 25, both from Haryana, were arrested on June 16 and remain in police custody.
Mehar Panwar, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Shimla, said the investigation had revealed that the murder was the outcome of a property dispute involving the management of Saraswati Paradise International Public School at Sanjauli.
Mehar Panwar said, “The sister and brother were in dispute over the registration of a society pertaining to the school to claim the authority on the school managements in Shimla and in Rohtak in Haryana. The sibling has another school also in Rohtak. Investigation suggests that the victim Manisha Mittal tried to register a new society of the school on her name while the earlier registered society was on the name of Himank Mittal.”
Although police sources revealed that a massive financial dispute over a Rs 8 crore fixed deposit further fuelled the sibling rivalry, ASP Mehar Panwar said, “Many aspects of the property dispute are under scrutiny”. The siblings’ late father, Dharam Pal Mittal, had initially secured a Rs 8-crore bank loan to expand the school.
When the Covid -19 pandemic disrupted those plans, he secured the funds in an FD. Following his death, a battle for the ownership of the FD broke out. Himank’s recent attempt to claim the amount was fiercely opposed by Manisha, escalating family tensions, said the police.
The police said the prime accused, Himank Mittal, is currently bedridden with a fractured leg and arm following an attack by unidentified assailants in Rohtak on June 1.
“Although the Rohtak police registered an FIR against unknown people, our investigation has established that Himank Mittal orchestrated the murder of his elder sister due to a dispute over the ownership and management of Saraswati Paradise International Public School.” ASP Panwar said.
“The conspiracy was allegedly executed through Gobind, who has been brought to Shimla for detailed interrogation.”
The officer said that the investigation also established that Himank Mittal had transferred Rs 8.50 lakh to Gobind days before the killing of his sister. The ASP further said that Himank Mittal would be brought to Shimla once doctors declared him medically fit.
“The two shooters, who were arrested earlier, remain in police custody. The shooters have been paid Rs 70,000 by Gobind so far. Rs 50,000 was paid in cash, and Rs 20,000 were through a bank transaction,” she added.
Manisha Mittal was shot dead outside the entrance gate of Saraswati Paradise International Public School in Housing Board Colony, Sanjauli, on June 13, sending shockwaves across Shimla.
Before his arrest, Himank Mittal had denied any involvement in the murder, maintaining that he had no connection with his sister and that the two had not been on speaking terms for a long time.
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