Shalu Minocha, who was released after spending 21 days in jail in connection with the murder of her father-in-law, Kanpur businessman Vineet Minocha, has said she was unaware that her husband was planning the killing.
“I had absolutely no idea my husband was planning all this,” Shalu told India Today’s sister channel, Aaj Tak, after her release. She was arrested shortly after Vineet Minocha’s murder, with police initially suspecting that she had orchestrated the killing by hiring two contract killers.
The investigation subsequently took a different turn, with police arresting Shalu’s husband, Subrat, for allegedly murdering his father. According to investigators, Subrat attempted to frame Shalu by allegedly instructing the hitmen involved in the killing to identify her as the person behind the murder when they were caught.
A court later ordered Shalu’s release on a personal bond of Rs 50,000, noting that it had found no independent and credible evidence connecting her to the alleged conspiracy. She has been directed to appear before the court or investigating officer whenever required.
Speaking to Aaj Tak after her release, Shalu said she and Subrat had attended a party together on the day Vineet was killed and that she did not notice anything suspicious.
Vineet was found with his throat slit inside his flat in Kanpur’s Indira Nagar area on September 5.
‘I NEVER IMAGINED THINGS WOULD GO THIS FAR’
Shalu said Subrat and his father had a troubled relationship, but she never believed their differences could culminate in murder.
“Subrat was very secretive. He and his father did not get along, but I never thought things could reach a point where something like this would happen,” she said.
She said she did not speak to Subrat even when police brought the two of them together during questioning. Shalu also denied having any knowledge that someone was attempting to frame her.
When asked whether she could forgive Subrat or continue their marriage, she said she was not in a position to make that decision yet.
“I need some time to come to terms with everything that has happened,” she said.
For now, Shalu said her main priority was her six-year-old child. “I want him to know nothing about all this. I just want to go to him and be with him,” she said.
Shalu also rejected the version of events that connected her to Vishal Gautam, a former employee who was allegedly hired as one of the attackers. She said she spoke to Vishal on the day of the party only because she had asked him to bring flowers for a rangoli.
HOW THE INVESTIGATION TOOK A DIFFERENT TURN
Shalu’s release came after Kanpur Police submitted a four-point response questioning the evidence that had earlier been cited against her. Investigators now allege that Subrat instructed Vishal to blame Shalu for the murder.
Vishal had initially told police that Shalu had asked him to kill Vineet and had provided him with a key to the house. Investigators now claim that Subrat arranged for Vishal to have a duplicate key made in Kanpur’s Gumti No. 5 area.
Subrat was arrested after he allegedly confessed to planning his father’s murder months earlier amid disputes involving money and Vineet’s relationships with other women.
Police are now comparing the statements of those involved with call records, CCTV footage and their movements on the day of the murder as part of the ongoing investigation.
