82-year-old widow killed in south Delhi

New Delhi: An 82-year-old widow was found murdered at her house in south Delhi on Monday morning. The main suspect, a domestic help hired in September without police verification, was absconding and the house ransacked.
Police discovered the body of the victim, Vimla Shah, bound and gagged in a bathroom . She was living alone in her second floor residence in Jangpura Extension since October 18, when her son Bharat Ratan, an IIT alumnus, and daughter-in-law Nipika went to Singapore to visit their sons.
Police have registered a case of murder and robbery, and said Shah’s 20-year-old domestic help, Jagat, was the prime suspect.
The murder was discovered after Shah’s daughter-inlaw requested the neighbours to check on her as she was not picking up the phone. “The neighbours entered the house and found the house ransacked and called the police,” said additional commissioner of police (southeast) Ajay Chaudhry.
“Vimla’s body was discovered inside the bathroom adjoining her bedroom . Her hands had been tied behind her back and mouth gagged. Prima facie, it appeared she had been smothered to death with two pillows that were found in the bathroom floor. We suspect that at least three people conspired to commit the crime as it is not a single person’s handiwork,” said a senior police officer.
Police suspect that the incident took place late on Sunday night.