Kolkata: In the Dunlop yoga instructor Anjali Shaw (26) murder case, police suspect that Dharambir Kumar, the arrested online gaming partner of the victim, had plotted the crime after his relationship with her turned bitter over another woman.Meanwhile, Kumar was brought to Kolkata on Friday (Nov 13) on transit remand granted by a court in Delhi’s Anand Vihar. Deputy commissioner of police, Kuntal Bandyopadhyay, said Kumar was being interrogated.Kumar was arrested outside east Delhi’s Anand Vihar Terminal railway station on Thursday (Nov 12), about two days after Shaw’s body was recovered from her relative’s vacant flat in Baranagar.In his 30s, the accused—a resident of Hazratganj in Lucknow—had developed a relationship with Shaw while playing PUBG, an online game. Trouble allegedly began after Kumar started playing with another woman in a separate gaming group. Police suspect this led to a fallout and the accused planned the murder. Cops said Kumar had arrived in the city on Sunday (Nov 8) afternoon. He had allegedly checked into a guest house in Dakshineswar.On Tuesday (Nov 10) afternoon, Shaw had gone to her sister and brother-in-law’s flat at Shitala Mata Lane in Baranagar, allegedly on Kumar’s insistence.Police said Kumar entered the flat around 1.30 pm, allegedly killed Anjali, locked the flat from outside and left with her mobile phone and valuables. He returned to the guest house and later boarded Vibhuti Express from Howrah station for travelling to Delhi around 1.40 am. During the journey, he allegedly used Shaw’s phone to send messages to her family members to create an impression that she was alive. Police said he had used the phone till Mughalsarai, then switched it off and activated his own handset. Police doubt he repeatedly switched phones on and off and changed locations. Shaw’s father told police that Kumar was known to the family and that he used to address her as his sister.He also identified a PUBG player named “Nick Rajput,” possibly an account of Kumar. Probe is on to ascertain if others are involved.
