A cash-strapped mechanic who often ran errands for an elderly couple has been arrested on charges of bludgeoning them to death after spotting cash in their wardrobe. Police said Pardeep Singh, 34, allegedly killed his distant relatives for ₹60,000, two mobile phones, and a few pieces of gold jewellery to recoup a mortgaged car.
Spontaneous Attack After Argument
According to police, the attack was spontaneous, occurring after the couple refused to give Pardeep more than ₹1,000 during an argument. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Karanveer Singh said the suspect visited the home on May 28 to borrow money. Kuldeep Singh and his wife, the sister of Pardeep's grandfather, frequently paid Pardeep for handling household chores because their children lived abroad.
Deadly Escalation
The situation turned violent when the woman opened a wardrobe to hand the suspect ₹1,000, inadvertently revealing a larger stash of cash. When Kuldeep Singh refused Pardeep's demands for more money, a minor dispute broke out. Hours later, while Kuldeep was preparing tea in the kitchen, the suspect allegedly grabbed a heavy machine bearing found on the property and struck him. The wounded man retreated to the bedroom, where the suspect assaulted him again before turning the weapon on the wife, killing both.
The killings went unnoticed until the couple's daughter, Jyoti, called from abroad on May 29. The suspect answered the phone and attempted to impersonate her father. Recognizing the voice as a fraud, Jyoti alerted other relatives. The suspect then panicked and dumped the phones outside the home before his arrest.
