Friends and acquaintances of dermatologist Dr Manish Gupta say that they noticed changes in his behaviour in the days leading up to the murder of his domestic help in South Delhi’s Mount Kailash.
Gupta was arrested after he bludgeoned and stabbed his domestic helper of 15 years, Meena, on Thursday.
Several friends and people who knew Gupta told the Times of India that he was unusually withdrawn and behaving oddly over the previous three to four days.
A few of his patients also made similar observations. Close associates said that Gupta may have been on medication for depression. However, none of them knew the details and said that the doctor was someone who rarely spoke about his personal life.
Neighbour, however, also said that despite the changes in behaviour, nothing suggested that he could commit the violence he is now accused of.
Gupta has been living at Mount Kailash with his wife and teenage son for nearly 15 years. Residents said that he was a reserved, police and private person.
“Like any other resident here, he would smile or greet you. He largely kept to himself.”
He had built a career spanning more than two decades.
He was an MBBS graduate from Jaipur and later trained in dermatology in New Delhi.
He had worked with several healthcare institutions, including the National Heart Institute, Kaya Skin Clinic and VLCC Health Care.
He also ran private practices, including Shivan Skin Clinic east of Kailash and Ayur Skin Clinic in Karol Bagh, which he operated with his wife, who is an Ayurvedic doctor.
Several domestic workers in the area had said that the doctor had provided them with treatment for themselves or their family members. One domestic helper said that the doctor recently treated her son’s skin allergy.
Amit Vohra, a man who runs a dog shelter, said that Manish was the first to donate to charitable causes.
Vohra said that the first person he called when he heard there was a murder was Manish, and said that he "couldn't believe it" when he learned that the doctor was the accused in the murder.
Meena, 45, had worked for Manish Gupta and his wife for over 15 years. Gupta and his wife had recently argued over removing her from the household.
