Throat slit, caretaker missing: Ex-IAS officer found dead in Bhopal home

Police say they are now looking closely at Varun Kumar, a caretaker who had been hired through an agency three days earlier as a 24-hour caretaker-cum-male nurse. Kumar, who is reportedly from Punjab, has been missing since the incident. Police suspect he may have fled from the house and have begun efforts to trace him.

Most of his belongings, save for a pair of clothes, were also found missing from the house, officials say.

“The caretaker had been hired through an agency three days ago as a 24-hour caretaker-cum-male nurse. He is currently untraceable, and we are trying to establish his movements,” ACP Khatarkar told The Indian Express.

Police, however, have not yet conclusively established Kumar’s role in the murder. Investigators are examining the physical evidence from the house, CCTV footage from the surrounding area and other leads to determine who was inside the premises at the time of the killing and how the person or persons involved left the house.

The police have also not been able to establish a motive for the murder. “So far, no valuables were missing from the house. Only after the suspect is arrested can we establish what transpired,” the officer said.

Agrawal belonged to the 1982 batch of the Madhya Pradesh cadre and spent more than three decades in the state administration, holding a succession of senior positions before his retirement. During his career, he served as district collector, deputy secretary, joint secretary, additional secretary, managing director, director, secretary and principal secretary.

An employee who was present at the home said he was woken up by the wife of the deceased IAS officer. “She said the gate was closed, so I went up to the house. Inside, the nozzle of the gas cylinder was left on. There was nothing suspicious in the last 2-3 days,” he said.

Rajesh Agrawal, a friend of the deceased IAS officer, said he was “deeply shocked by the incident” when he visited the family home in Bhopal.

“His wife is now admitted to the hospital, and the son is headed home from the US,” he said.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed condolences and said the guilty won’t be spared.

“The Director General of Police has been instructed to monitor the case. The state government is fully sensitive to this matter. The culprits will be identified, and legal action will be taken. No culprit will be spared,” he said.

The Congress sought to corner the state government over the “law and order situation” in Bhopal.

Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar said: Criminals are getting emboldened under the BJP government, and people are not safe even in the capital, Bhopal. Law and order has completely collapsed under Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. When a retired IAS officer is not safe in his own home in the capital, who will take responsibility for the safety of the general public?”.