New Delhi: A loan of Rs 80,000 was allegedly at the centre of the dispute that led to the arson at a five-storey building in southeast Delhi’s Tughlaqabad Extension in June, killing four members of a family who had no link with the row. The details are part of a 400-page chargesheet filed in the case by Delhi Police before a Saket court Monday.Three accused, Sarita (27) and brothers Niranjan (33) and Rajkumar (27), have been charged under sections 61 (criminal conspiracy), 105 (culpable homicide), 110 (attempt to culpable homicide), 326(g) (mischief by fire) and 331(4) (lurking house-trespass by night) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police have also invoked Section 95 of BNS, which deals with hiring, employing or engaging a child to commit an offence. More than 40 people have been named as witnesses in the case.According to the chargesheet, Sarita had a monetary dispute with Deepak, a resident of the building, and hatched a conspiracy, engaging a minor to set Deepak’s motorcycle on fire in the parking area. The flames, however, quickly spread through the building. The deceased were identified as Pankaj Pandey (28), his sister Soni (20), their mother Guddi Devi (50) and maternal grandmother Sushila Devi (70). Deepak was out of station on the day of the incident.Police initially suspected that the fire was caused by a short circuit. The investigation took a different turn after CCTV footage showed a minor entering the building before the blaze and leaving as the fire broke out. Investigators also found footage of Sarita and the minor travelling on a scooter before and after the incident.Sarita claimed before investigators that she had acted at the behest of Niranjan and Rajkumar, Deepak’s cousins. She said Deepak had borrowed money from her but failed to repay it despite repeated demands. Police claimed that after failing to get the money back, she conspired to set his scooter ablaze.On the day of the incident, Sarita allegedly took the minor on her scooter to a spot near the building, pointed out the vehicle, and handed her petrol and matches. After the scooter was set ablaze, the two allegedly fled.Police have also submitted an investigation report to Juvenile Justice Board regarding the minor’s alleged role in the incident.
