Over a week after a Delhi-based businessman was allegedly killed and robbed inside a lodge in Southwest Delhi’s Safdarjung Enclave, police have arrested a 29-year-old woman in connection with the case. The woman was identified as Usha, who also went by the names Anjali and Nikki. Police said she and another woman, who is on the run, had allegedly planned to rob the victim, Deepak Sethi (53). Police said she had left behind a note expressing regret over the incident. On March 31, Sethi, who was into commissioning work, was found dead at the lodge. Police had said he checked in a night before at 8.50 pm along with a woman, who left around midnight in a WagonR. “He was discovered the next morning with some froth coming out of his mouth. there were stains on the pillow. It also appears that he had consumed some alcohol,” police had said. Police said it appeared Sethi’s drink was laced with drugs and they suspect he died of a drug overdose. Following a PCR call, police and FSL teams reached the spot and found a note which stated: “Aap ek nice person hai sorry sorry sorry, samajh lena meri bohot zyada majburi thi Jo apke saath ye kiya extremely sorry yaar.” The case was then taken up by the Crime Branch and the needle of suspicion pointed to the woman who had accompanied Sethi. Special CP (Crime) Ravindra Yadav said police stumbled upon an Aadhaar card with the name ‘Anjali’. Police then analysed Sethi’s contacts on his phone and found the woman's number. However, police found that the number was obtained on forged documents and was activated only on March 20. “On further scrutiny of call details records, it was found that the mobile phone was recharged somewhere in Sant Garh on March 23. A police team was deployed to the shop from where the woman recharged her number.,” said the officer. “The shopkeeper, Chide, a Nigerian national, told police the number belonged to Nikki, a friend of his live-in-partner and co-accused. However, he did not know her address. Further CDR analysis led us to Nikki — who turned out to be Usha,” added the officer. During questioning, police said it came to light that Usha was in jail till last year in a snatching case lodged in Panipat. The co-accused was also lodged in the same jail. Yadav said: “Usha had known Sethi from earlier. On March 30, the two women came to Connaught Place Metro station where Usha met Sethi who took her to the lodge.” Police said Usha had allegedly planned to drug Sethi and flee with his money and other belongings along with the second woman in a hired taxi. A senior officer said: “When asked about the written note, the woman, who has now been sent to judicial custody, said she became scared about the consequences and was doing it only out of her compulsion for money. it seems she did not want to kill him but only steal his belongings.” Sethi’s viscera samples have been preserved for further probe.
