Delhi UPSC aspirant murder: Partner and ex-boyfriend ‘strangled him, set him ablaze while alive’

These details were part of an 813-page chargesheet filed in the murder case on Monday at the Tis Hazari court. The court has not yet taken cognizance of the chargesheet.

In a first, the Delhi Police also used gait analysis as a key evidence to pin the accused, The Indian Express has learnt. 

As per the probe, the victim was first thrashed, then strangled using a phone charging cable. The accused tried to disguise the incident as an accidental death in a house fire but the autopsy report highlighted the injuries and undid their plot.

Before the killing, Amrita had been allegedly coordinating with the other accused via Instagram — she told them that the accused was home. The accused were seen entering the house around 8.45 pm. Thirty-eight minutes later, Sandeep left while Amrita and Kashyap stayed back, said officers. The duo then allegedly poured petrol on Meena’s body, set him on fire and left the premises at 2.57 am on October 6. 

Quoting the autopsy report, officers privy to the probe said, “It came into notice that some burn injuries were found… indicating that the victim was alive/unconscious when he was set on fire.”

Cracking the case

Police then conducted a gait analysis. Forensic experts consider various factors during the comparison, such as the movement of the feet and hands, stride length, and the complete gait cycle. 

The investigators compared the suspects seen in the CCTV footage from in and around the crime scene with a recreated video. Using specialised computer software, the two recordings were analysed side by side.

Investigating officers said experts from Gujarat had come to Delhi and were shown footage of the accused from various CCTV cameras. During the investigation, CCTV footage from five different places were collected and placed on record.

A total of 55 witnesses were questioned during the probe. An air conditioner, which was burnt, was inspected by technical experts of companies to rule out any ignition from AC. After inspection, it came into notice that no leakage from the window AC compressor was found intact. This too has been mentioned as a significant piece of evidence in the chargesheet filed.

It was a police team led by Inspector Pankaj Tomar, and comprising Sub-Inspectors Deepak and Mohit and Head Constable Ram Roop, that cracked the case. Police said they have sufficient evidence on record to ensure conviction in this case. 

Investigating officials said the murder was pre-planned as the accused had even taken a house on rent in South Delhi’s Chattarpur where they went after killing the 32-year-old.

What is gait pattern analysis?

Systematic study of walking to understand movement, or identify individuals, examining temporal (speed, step length) and spatial (joint angles, foot placement) features using tools like motion sensors or cameras to detect abnormalities from conditions or for forensic identification via footprints/CCTV. It breaks down the gait cycle (stance/swing phases) to assess criminal investigation by identifying unique deviations.

Cases where it has been used previously

– 2021 Saki Naka rape-murder case in Mumbai — relied upon by a special while giving death sentence to 44-year-old accused

– 2024 Rameshwaram Café probe in Bengaluru — NIA decided to use gait analysis to confirm identity of accused

– To identity of the killers of journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru in 2017